Pondok institutions get govt help

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 20, 2026

The Malaysian government will provide targeted support to modernize pondok religious schools by enhancing their facilities and integrating new academic disciplines, including artificial intelligence, as announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. This initiative aims to elevate the status of pondok institutions, diversify career pathways for students, and create university access for graduates to contribute to the national education system.

PUTRAJAYA — The Malaysian government plans to provide enhanced support to pondok institutions, traditional religious schools, in upgrading their facilities and academic offerings, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced on Saturday.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the National Turath Scholars’ Consultation, part of the Malaysia Islamic Turath Festival 2026, Anwar said selected pondok institutions would be designated to pioneer new educational approaches tailored to their specialties and focus on tarbiah, or moral and spiritual discipline. This initiative marks the first time since Malaysia’s independence in 1957 that the government has actively assisted pondok schools in this manner.

“This is not about me deciding the curriculum, as that is not my expertise,” Anwar emphasized. “I am proposing ways to enhance their dignity and status by introducing new fields of knowledge and academic disciplines.”

The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of integrating contemporary areas of study, such as artificial intelligence (AI), into the pondok curriculum. According to Anwar, AI holds significant potential as a tool for Islamic outreach and fostering community development, provided its use is guided by ethics and morality. He cautioned that without such frameworks, AI could pose substantial risks akin to other technological advances like smartphones and computers.

Anwar also addressed the diversity of educational trajectories among pondok students, noting that not all institutions are expected to produce religious scholars. “Some aim for careers in engineering, aviation, or technical and vocational education and training (TVET),” he said. “That is not a problem as long as they have a solid religious foundation alongside their chosen fields.”

Further, he underscored the need for certain pondok institutions to establish pathways to university education to enable graduates to contribute to Malaysia’s public education system. While recognizing that not all pondok programs must lead to higher education, Anwar stressed that university access is crucial for those graduates who will influence broader educational frameworks.

The event was attended by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, as well as international scholars including former Grand Mufti of Egypt Sheikh Prof Dr Ali Jum’ah Muhammad Abdul Wahab and Moroccan academic Sheikh Prof Dr Sayyid Idris al-Fasi al-Fihri.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.