Saifuddin Abdullah said Malay teachers should serve as catalysts contributing ideas, community leaders and political activists to steer the nation’s future.

“Historically, Malay teachers have provided crucial leadership and have taken management roles in political parties.

“Their involvement has enabled parties to reach their peak and played a key role in advancing the interests of the Malay community,” the Indera Mahkota MP said when delivering a keynote address at the Forum Pendidikan Melayu, organised by the Selangor Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semananjung, at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

“With teachers playing such key roles, they were known then as ‘parti berjuang’ (parties that led the struggle). Today, with fewer teachers involved, some parties have become ‘parti berwang’ (cash-rich parties).”

Saifuddin, who heads the PN education bureau, also said teachers must be meaningfully involved in decision-making at all levels — from the schools right up to the education ministry.

To better support teachers, he proposed expanding the number of subject matter experts, increasing funding for education research, improving career schemes, and easing teacher workloads by hiring more support staff and clerical personnel.

He added that these ideas were part of PN’s education reform proposals, completed in March last year.

They outline reforms in philosophy, policy, curriculum, technical and vocational education and training, digital technology, human capital development, governance, and broader stakeholder involvement by parents and alumni.