Kuala lumpur: Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar has denied claims circulating on social media alleging that the Federal Government or departments under his purview would order the closure of unregistered pondok schools in Kelantan and Kedah. He stated that no such directive had been issued and described the allegation as false, malicious, and defamatory.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohd Na'im emphasized that spreading baseless accusations, especially those involving sensitive issues such as religious institutions, is irresponsible and can threaten societal harmony. He expressed concern over the act of spreading false information without citing any authentic or official source.

Mohd Na'im further elaborated that the Federal Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has consistently provided full support to Islamic educational institutions, including pondok schools, madrasahs, and tahfiz centres. These institutions are considered key pillars of the Malaysia MADANI development framework.

Efforts are being made by religious authorities to improve the registration and accreditation systems for Islamic educational institutions to safeguard students' welfare, safety, and health, while ensuring the quality of religious education remains well-organised and recognised. Mohd Na'im urged the public not to spread false news or slander that could tarnish the image of Islamic institutions and cause public confusion.

He assured that any verified information regarding official policies or decisions will be communicated through the official channels of the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs), the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), and relevant agencies. He called for the dignity of pondok institutions and Islamic education to be upheld, and for any form of slander that could divide the ummah to be rejected.