Zaqy: Madrasahs Nurture Future Asatizah, Graduates Can Also Contribute Beyond Religious Sector

Responding to NMP Azhar Othman's questions, Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Zaqy Mohamad, said the hope is for madrasah students to become asatizah, while recognising that not all will pursue careers in the religious sector.

He said graduates who become doctors and lawyers are also a positive outcome, bringing their religious grounding into their professions and contributing to the Muslim community.

Zaqy highlighted that Islamic education is not limited to full-time madrasahs. Options include MUIS' ALIVE programme for young people, ADIL for adults, and private providers such as Andalus, Cordova and Al-Zuhri, which offer diploma and degree programmes.

Zaqy said continued investment in madrasah education reflects the hope of nurturing future asatizah. The upcoming SCIS, welcoming its first cohort in 2028, will provide another pathway for advanced Islamic studies.

Zaqy said the different pathways share a common goal: for Muslims to succeed in their chosen fields, contribute meaningfully to society and remain firmly rooted in Islamic values.

Days before his parliamentary remarks, Zaqy discussed madrasah enrolment on Mediacorp's Detik Dialogue, responding to a parent's question about whether the annual intake of around 400 students could be increased.