A three-year-old non-Muslim boy attending a PAS-run pre-school in Johor sparks discussion on culture and choice
UNITY in Malaysia’s multicultural society has once again come into the spotlight after a three-year-old non-Muslim Chinese toddler drew attention online for attending a PAS-owned pre-school in Johor.
Low Zi Kang is enrolled at Pasti in Cha’ah, and photos of him wearing a kopiah — a traditional Muslim cap — as part of his school attire have generated widespread discussion on social media.
According to Malaysiakini, his mother, Zhu Er Chan, 31, said the decision was driven by practical circumstances.
She needed to return to her hometown for around three months and was looking for a pre-school willing to accept her son on a short-term basis.
She explained that only the PAS-run institution agreed to accommodate her request.
“The main reason I sent my child to Pasti kindergarten was that I had to return to my hometown temporarily to attend to family matters,” Zhu told the newsportal.
“I am happy that my child is able to learn about Islam from a young age. This has been a good experience for us,” she added.
Low began attending the pre-school in November 2025, when he was just two and a half years old. Zhu said she has since noticed positive changes in her son’s emotional development and early learning.
“Even though it was only for three months, I have seen very encouraging progress. Since studying here, my child seems very happy,” she said, adding that Low can now speak basic Malay words and sing and dance to Malay songs.
Zhu also shared that her son was warmly welcomed by both teachers and classmates, quickly becoming a favourite among other pupils.
“Every morning when my child arrives, many of them come out to welcome him, hug him and greet him,” she said.
While many netizens praised the story as a reflection of unity, Zhu acknowledged that reactions from the non-Muslim community were mixed, with some critics sending her private messages questioning her choice.
“I prefer not to engage with negative comments and hope that those who criticise my decision will respect different religions and cultures, as well as each individual’s choices,” she added.
