Abdul Aziz Isa, the special assistant to Sarawak DAP leader Chong Chieng Jen, said Sarawak Women, Welfare and Community Wellbeing Minister Fatimah Abdullah had made this request in January as the state did not have such powers.

Fatimah wanted to recruit local graduates from the open market.

Aziz said the state Education Department had a database of local graduates to pick the right candidates to fill vacancies for Islamic religious teachers.

“But they cannot do this because they don’t have the power. Thus, the department has requested the education ministry to send these Islamic religious teachers.”

Aziz said the education ministry had not responded yet to the state’s request for the power to hire these teachers.

Sarawak needs 400 Islamic religious teachers.

Aziz hopes the ministry will give priority to locals to fill these vacancies as they have a better understanding of local culture.

He said DAP opposed the “import” of Islamic religious teachers from Peninsular Malaysia because it was against Article 8 of the 18-Point Agreement, which deals with the Borneonisation of the civil service.

Aziz said recruiting locals will help provide jobs to Sarawakians, protect Sarawak students from any extremist teachings and preserve the state’s multiracial harmony.

“What will happen to our young generation 30 years from now if they are taught and brainwashed with conservative and extreme doctrines?

“Do we want our future generations to be racist bigots and religious extremist like what we have seen around the world, including in Peninsular Malaysia nowadays?”