By Selangor Journal Team
SHAH ALAM, Aug 17 — Claims that scores of Islamic religious schools in Selangor are being ordered to close are merely attempts by certain quarters to cause fear and anxiety among the Muslims, said the Prime Minister’s Department.
Its minister in charge of religious affairs, Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, described the allegations as being without basis and irresponsible in nature.
He said what the state government had done is take the necessary measures to prevent similar incidents like the fire that killed 21 students and two teachers at a private religious school in Kuala Lumpur in 2017, adding that this was why the Selangor Private Religious School (Tahfiz Institution) Registration Guidelines were introduced in 2019.
“This initiative is to ensure that a tragedy like the 2017 school fire does not recur in any religious schools in Selangor,” he said in a statement today.
Na’im also said his department was made to understand that since 2021, the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) has insisted that all schools fulfil the registration requirements as stipulated under the state’s 2019 guidelines.
“Schools were given two years to meet these requirements. During this period, Jais had also issued an extension to schools to give them the opportunity to seek advice from the respective agencies.
“As such, allegations that private religious schools are being ordered to leave their premises are completely false and ill-intentioned aimed at creating anxiety among Muslims.”
Na’im urged all quarters to refer to the relevant authorities to seek information on the matter to ensure that the facts and contexts are clear and accurate.
Earlier this week, a remark by Selangor Islamic NGO secretariat chairman Datuk Nazilah Idris, that over 200 religious schools in the state have been issued notices of eviction from their respective premises, had made rounds on the Internet.
She also claimed this was allowed to happen since a DAP leader is currently heading the Local Government Development Ministry.
Incumbent state executive councillor for Islamic affairs Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni has since rubbished the allegation, stating instead that the state has been taking proactive measures since 2019 to register private religious institutions via its registration guideline.
He said this guideline was formulated on the decree of the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj, following the fire that killed 23 individuals at the tahfiz school in 2017.
“The state government denies baseless allegations by certain quarters attempting to undermine efforts to regularise private religious schools with the goal of improving the quality and status of these education institutions,” he said.
Meanwhile, caretaker Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari has urged all quarters to refrain from making similar accusations.
“This (question) was answered in July. Claims that over 200 religious schools in Selangor will be closed are slanderous and baseless,” he said.
