National Social Council agrees to set up special committee on Islamic preschool education

New Straits Times

09-05-2025

PUTRAJAYA: The National Social Council Meeting No. 1/2025, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, has agreed to establish a Special Committee on Islamic Preschool Education.
Zahid, in a statement, said the committee aims to coordinate registration, curriculum development and teacher welfare at Pusat Asuhan Tunas Islam (Pasti) to ensure the delivery of quality, safe and structured preschool education.
"Today's meeting addressed critical national social issues, including the coordination of Islamic preschool education institutions and comprehensive protection for vulnerable children. It also discussed strategies to resolve registration, curriculum and teaching staff issues at Pasti," he said.
Zahid, who is also rural and regional development minister, said a proposal paper will be submitted to the Cabinet on a more structured and quality-driven early childhood education roadmap.
He added that the meeting also agreed to set up a task force to address social problems among school dropouts, including drug abuse and other social challenges that require urgent and targeted cross-agency action.
On the 560 children linked to the GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISB) group, Zahid said the meeting agreed to implement integrated coordination involving various ministries, agencies and state religious institutions to ensure the well-being of all the rescued children.
He said monitoring, protection and welfare aspects of the children would continue to be strengthened in line with their rights as heirs to the nation's future.
According to Zahid, the government has allocated RM1.2 million to support programmes for identity development, parenting advocacy and comprehensive spiritual rehabilitation for the children.
He said the meeting also touched on the need to establish a long-term care (LTC) system for senior citizens, in line with Pillar 5 of the National Ageing Action Framework.
"The meeting resolved that drastic steps must be taken to reduce dependence on government financial resources through the restructuring of a more sustainable social support system," he said.
Zahid said it is estimated that 15 per cent of Malaysians will be aged 60 and above by 2030, with the majority lacking insurance coverage.
He said the National Social Council is not merely a policy discussion platform, but a unifying forum that brings together the strength of the entire nation, including the government, agencies, private sector, non-governmental organisations and civil society.
"This is the whole-of-nation approach needed to confront the country's social challenges with courage, inclusivity and sustainability," he said.
Zahid also called on all government machinery, NGOs, the private sector and civil society to strengthen cooperation, advance the national social development agenda, and drive the holistic well-being of Malaysians.