PETALING JAYA: Strict legal action should be taken immediately against anyone found to be guilty in the recent cases involving violence against students in tahfiz institutions, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said he felt a sense of deep regret towards cases that went viral recently, including the incident in Sabah where a video of a tahfiz student being physically assaulted had spread online.
“The government stresses that any form of violence, abuse or actions that outrage the modesty of children can never be accepted.
“This is especially if it happens in an institution that is meant to build values, love and character among young people,” he said in a statement on Friday (Dec 19).
Ahmad Zahid was commenting on a recent incident in Telipok, Sabah, where a teacher at a private tahfiz centre had allegedly assaulted students with a helmet outside a cyber cafe.
It was reported that the teacher was suspended by the centre’s management board.
Ahmad Zahid said strict and immediate legal action will be taken against anyone who is found guilty according to the law to ensure that such incidents do not recur.
“This isolated incident does not represent the overall national tahfiz education ecosystem.
“To strengthen protection for students and the overall administration of tahfiz institutions, the government is working towards the implementation of the National Tahfiz Education Policy 2.0, which is scheduled to be launched next year,” he said.
The policy will focus on the enforcement of rules and regulations, improving the curriculum and National Tahfiz Education model, as well as strengthening human capital, among others.
At the same time, the Tahfiz Malaysia recognition standards will be launched on Dec 21 in Bagan Datuk, Perak, during the Himpunan Huffaz 2025 and Simfoni Dakwah Nusantara held at that time.
Ahmad Zahid said the standards will be an important mechanism to create a uniform level of quality in tahfiz institutions, covering student welfare, teaching quality and others.
“I am confident that such measures will be a solid foundation in restoring public confidence and strengthening tahfiz institutions to ensure Islamic education will continuously be developed,” he said.
