Sim said these teachers were entitled to the minimum wage just like any other worker in the private sector, adding that reports on non-compliance can be filed with the labour department.

“Compliance with the minimum wage applies to Pasti teachers, the same way it applies to other workers in the private sector,” he said in winding up the debate on the 13th Malaysia Plan for his ministry in the Dewan Rakyat.

Earlier this month, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (PH-Setiawangsa) said over 9,500 teachers at the PAS-run Islamic preschools received only RM600 to RM700 in allowances a month, far below the minimum wage.

He said the argument that these teachers were volunteers rather than workers was unacceptable as many of them lived in high-cost areas like the Klang Valley, he added.

Syahir Sulaiman (PN-Bachok) defended the practice, saying the teachers only worked short hours while the Pasti preschools did not rely on government funds.

The Pasti Islamic preschools, established by PAS’s youth wing, started in the late 1980s to provide an alternative, faith-based early education system.