SHAH ALAM - Perikatan Nasional (PN) Youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari has criticised the action of certain parties who objected to the Education Ministry’s initiative to implement the Imam Al-Nawawi 40 hadith appreciation module which has now become a controversial issue.
Ahmad Fadhli who is also Pas Youth chief said the implementation of the initiative was allowed under Section 50(1) of the Education Act 1996.
He said under the provision, educational institutions with five or more pupils professing the religion of Islam shall be given religious teaching in Islam by teachers approved by the state authority.
"Therefore there is no reason to object the ministry’s initiative to implement the module at 289 government schools in a pilot project to Muslim teachers and pupils.
"Any party from non-governmental organisations (NGO) or anywhere must realise the reality in the Education Act.
"Don’t be a hero in this issue,” he said in a Facebook post, yesterday.
The controversy over the implementation of the Imam Al-Nawawi 40 hadith appreciation module sparked when certain parties voiced out their objection after the Education Ministry on Aug 19 informed that it would implement the initiative.
The ministry in a statement said it will start implementing the module to foster the spirit of ihsan (spiritual excellence) and love.
The move, it said was an effort to strengthen religious understanding among Muslim teachers and students.
It said a pilot test on the implementation of the module will involve Muslim teachers and pupils at 61 Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) and 228 Sekolah Agama Bantuan Kerajaan (SABK) nationwide.