Malaysia's Deputy PM Pushes for Islamic Ethics in National School Curriculum
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has called for stronger Islamic education and moral values in Malaysia’s mainstream schools. He proposed new measures to ensure students develop both knowledge and character, including the creation of a National Tahfiz Council. Speaking at an event, Zahid stressed that education must focus on more than just academic success. He argued that knowledge without values creates intelligent but unwise individuals—capable yet uncivilised. To address this, he wants ethics and character education made compulsory at all school levels.
He also pushed for a return to education’s core purpose: building character, ethics, discipline, patriotism, and respect for parents. His vision includes a ‘knowledge society’ where learning directly supports national development. One key proposal is establishing a National Tahfiz Council to improve Islamic and tahfiz education nationwide. The goal is to produce Huffaz who excel as professionals—engineers, doctors, technocrats, entrepreneurs, and future leaders. Zahid even expressed hope that Malaysia’s next prime minister could be a Hafiz of the Quran. The deputy prime minister confirmed he would present these plans to the Cabinet for approval.
If approved, the reforms would reshape Malaysia’s education system by integrating moral and religious studies more deeply. The National Tahfiz Council would play a central role in developing Huffaz who contribute across various professional fields. Zahid’s proposals aim to create a generation that balances expertise with strong ethical grounding.
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