In a Facebook post today, he said this could be done by taking a strong spiritual and moral approach to education.

He congratulated Maszlee on his appointment as minister, and voiced hope that he would improve the quality of education in the context of the Islamic concepts of ta’lim, tarbiyah and ta’dib.

“Ensure our Islamic education curriculum is free of elements of Wahhabism and Shia,” Zamihan added.

“If anyone takes an oath in the name of Allah, he must serve well and truthfully. Remember, we will all have to answer in the afterlife.”

Maszlee’s appointment as education minister has been met with opposition from some sections of society due to his alleged Salafist leanings and support for Indian preacher Zakir Naik.

However, a number of leaders and activists, including DAP’s Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming, have spoken in Maszlee’s defence.

Zamihan meanwhile courted controversy last year for his speech in a mosque criticising the Johor sultan’s stand on a Muslim-only laundrette.

His criticism earned him the wrath of both the Selangor and Johor palaces, following which his religious credentials or tauliah were revoked.

This also led to calls for Zamihan to be removed from the Prison Department’s deradicalisation programme, but his track record was defended by then deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

Strong support for petition amid concerns over incoming minister’s Salafist leanings