12-08-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Afnan says Pasti teachers serve voluntarily despite low pay
KUALA LUMPUR: Alor Setar member of Parliament Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden has defended the Pusat Asuhan Tunas Islam (Pasti) pre-school system against claims of unfair treatment of teachers, saying their allowances were for voluntary positions and should not be compared to private sector salaries.
Afnan told the Dewan Rakyat that Pasti teachers agreed to serve despite knowing they would not receive high pay due to low fees.
"They are not robots — they willingly contribute their energy to help our children learn ABC and 'alif ba ta'," he said, adding that Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad should thank them for supporting the preschool education ecosystem.
Nik Nazmi had criticised the RM600 to RM700 monthly pay for over 9,500 Pasti teachers, calling it a breach of the minimum wage law.
He said the voluntary role justification was unacceptable under the National Wages Consultative Council (Amendment) Act 2025 and claimed the practice denied them Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) contributions.
Afnan countered that Pasti teachers could contribute to EPF via the i-Sara scheme and were covered under the self-employed social security scheme.
He urged the government to focus on allowances for Kafa teachers, Takmir teachers and imams, which he said remained below the minimum wage.
