Education Minister announces RM64 million national religious secondary school in Bukit Mertajam will begin operations next year.
GEORGE TOWN: A new national religious secondary school in Bukit Mertajam is set to begin operations next year, aiming to strengthen Islamic education rooted in dakwah and foster harmony within Malaysia’s multicultural society.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) Sheikh Tahir Jalaluddin is named in honour of the distinguished Penang-born scholar and thinker Sheikh Tahir Jalaluddin, in recognition of his significant contributions to Islamic knowledge and reforms.
She stated that this school will focus on dakwah, the strength of Islam in a multicultural society, and promoting a compassionate, harmonious approach that respects diversity.
Fadhlina highlighted one of the school’s distinctive features as its emphasis on multilingual proficiency, not only in Malay but also English, Arabic, Tamil, and Mandarin, to nurture students who can convey dakwah with wisdom, tact, and respect in Malaysia’s diverse, multiracial society.
She added that the effort is also in line with the success of the Ulul Albab Tahfiz Model, with the new SMKA set to embody an Islamic education approach that emphasises intellectual discipline, moral integrity, and excellence across diverse fields of knowledge.
The minister expressed hope that students of this school will become individuals of noble character and sound knowledge, capable of conveying a message of Islam that is harmonious and inclusive.
She confirmed that the RM64 million school will be disability-friendly and equipped with an academic block housing classrooms, an administration block, a multipurpose hall, nine science labs, two computer labs, six Design and Technology (RBT) workshops, a surau, a canteen, a field, and three courts.
The school will also include male and female dormitories, warden quarters, a dining hall, and a range of facilities designed to support a holistic learning environment. – Bernama
