Kota Kinabalu: All Islamic education institutions, including, Tahfiz schools in Sabah need to register with Sabah Islamic Religious Affairs Department (Jheains).
Sabah’s Exco of Islamic Affairs and Education Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin bin Mohd Arif said it is vital for the operators to do so as it would be easier for the Sabah Islamic Religious Council (Muis) to provide them with assistance and other necessities.
He said such registration would also enable Jheains to monitor the learning syllabus and co-curriculum of institutions which are being taught to the children.
“It is true that we have imposed the registration of educational institutions including Sekolah Agama Rakyat (SAR) and Tahfiz schools with the relevant authorities like Jheains and Muis.
“In addition, we also made it known to founders of the institutions concerned, including tahfiz on the importance of registering their respective institutions.
“However, any institution that is found going against the regulations will be taken action, accordingly,” he said.
Dr Mohd Arifin said this to reporters after officiating a convocation of 17 graduates of Kimanis Training Centre (KTC) under Petronas held at Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here Thursday.
He was commenting on whether Islamic educational institutions, including Tahfiz schools in Sabah, are being registered.
On a proposal to make the registration as compulsory, including for Islamic-based charity homes, Dr Mohd Arifin who is also Science, Technology and Innovation Minister said he will bring such proposal to a Committee (Sabah Islamic Affairs Coordination Committee) (JaPHEIS) to be discussed.
Such proposal was raised following the recent raids of 20 welfare homes that are alleged to have links with Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH) in Selangor and Negri Sembilan by the police.
National media reported that on Sept 11, as a result of Op Global, 402 children between the age of one and 17 were rescued in the large-scale operation at the 20 homes.
