Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, deputy president of PAS, has emphasized that any initiative to introduce Mandarin and Tamil in PAS-run kindergartens must align with a cohesive national education policy, rather than responding to sporadic demands.
His remarks came in response to a challenge from DAP Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, who urged PAS to demonstrate its commitment to multilingual education by incorporating these languages into its Pasti preschool network. This followed Tuan Ibrahim’s earlier suggestion that Mandarin and Tamil be taught in national schools.
Pasti, PAS’s network of Islamic preschools, prioritizes religious education delivered in the Malay language.
Speaking to reporters at the International Muslim Ummah Forum in Alor Setar on Sunday, Tuan Ibrahim stated, “We need a unified national education policy, not piecemeal measures scattered here and there.” He dismissed such fragmented approaches as a “village mindset” and directed his retort at DAP, saying, “Tell them that.”
Tuan Ibrahim clarified that his proposal to include Mandarin and Tamil in national schools aims to foster unity and reduce racial prejudice among children. In response, Lim accused Tuan Ibrahim of misunderstanding Malaysia’s education system, noting that both languages are already offered as elective subjects in national schools. Lim further questioned whether Tuan Ibrahim’s suggestion reflected personal opinion or signaled a new PAS policy.
On a separate issue, Tuan Ibrahim refuted claims that PAS’s decision to forgo contests for its top leadership positions was undemocratic. He argued that the move was a strategic effort to solidify a formidable team ahead of the 16th General Election (GE16). Citing Kedah Menteri Besar Sanusi Nor, who opted not to vie for party posts despite his strong electability, Tuan Ibrahim stressed that the party’s focus remains on GE16 preparations.
When pressed on whether PAS would nominate a prime ministerial candidate should Perikatan Nasional (PN) regain power, Tuan Ibrahim deflected with an analogy: “It’s like planning a goat-breeding project. We haven’t even started raising the goats, so why discuss profits?” He urged the party to prioritize groundwork, stating, “Let’s concentrate on the campaign, the elections, and securing a win. Only then will we address positions.”
About The Author
