BUTTERWORTH, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has approved an additional RM4.6 million this year to upgrade basic infrastructure at 27 Islamic educational institutions across Penang.
The allocation is an increase from the RM2.11 million provided last year for upgrading works at 11 Islamic educational institutions in the state.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said the allocation would be used for various upgrading works at the institutions.
“Last year in Penang, we added more than RM2 million. This year, I announced RM4.6 million for people’s religious institutions.
“It is for upgrading works, including walls and fences, madrasahs, schools, new kindergarten buildings and tahfiz academies,” he said when speaking at the National Tadabbur Perdana and Maidah Wanita MADANI Permatang Pauh programmes at Masjid Muhajirin here today.
He said the government would continue to focus on the needs of people’s religious schools and Islamic educational institutions to strengthen religious education facilities in the country.
Anwar also said efforts to strengthen Islamic education should keep pace with technological developments, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in Quranic and Islamic studies.
However, he stressed that technology must be guided by good values and strong moral principles.
“AI must have values. AI must be rooted in morality. It should not be used simply to develop talent and understanding without values and morality,” he said.
The Prime Minister also urged the public to make use of the freedom available in the country to organise more religious programmes to strengthen their understanding of Islam.
He said programmes such as Quran classes, tadabbur sessions and religious talks should be held continuously to deepen public understanding and appreciation of the true teachings of Islam.
-- BERNAMA