KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar has denied claims circulating on social media alleging that the Federal Government or departments under his purview will order the closure of unregistered pondok schools in Kelantan and Kedah.
The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) said no such directive had been issued and described the allegation as false, malicious and defamatory.
"It is evident that this act of immorality and slander is being spread without citing any authentic or official source.
"Spreading baseless accusations, especially those involving sensitive issues such as religious institutions, is irresponsible and can threaten societal harmony," he said in a Facebook post on Thursday (Oct 23) night.
Mohd Na'im said the Federal Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, had consistently provided full support to Islamic educational institutions, including pondok schools, madrasahs and tahfiz centres, as key pillars of the Malaysia Madani development framework.
He said religious authorities were working to improve the registration and accreditation systems for Islamic educational institutions to safeguard students' welfare, safety and health while ensuring the quality of religious education remained well-organised and recognised.
"I urge everyone not to spread false news or slander that could tarnish the image of Islamic institutions and cause public confusion.
"Any verified information regarding official policies or decisions will be communicated through the official channels of the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs), the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and relevant agencies.
"Let us all uphold the dignity of pondok institutions and Islamic education and reject any form of slander that could divide the ummah," he said. – Bernama
