PETALING JAYA: Education Minister Maszlee Malik has voiced his concern over unusual punishments recommended by a tahfiz school in Sarawak, which include pouring excrement on students.
Maszlee said the punishments, as listed in a consent form prepared by Pondok Hidayatul Mubtadi’ien in Kuching, were inhumane and “undermine the dignity of education”.
“Education is not effective when it is forced upon,” he said in a statement.
“Education is love and affection. Education is for everyone and is everyone’s responsibility.”
Yesterday, Sarawak assistant minister Abdul Rahman Junaidi said that the parental consent form was meant to deter students of the school from misbehaving.
He told FMT yesterday that the headmaster of the tahfiz school had informed him that the punishments were never carried out.
“The tahfiz school has admitted its mistake,” said Abdul Rahman, who is in charge of Islamic affairs.