The Sarawak government regularly assesses the necessity for building madrasahs or Tahfiz schools, said Deputy Minister of Utility and Telecommunication, Datuk Dr. Abdul Rahman Junaidi.
Abdul Rahman, who also oversees Islamic affairs in Sarawak, said that Balingian currently has one religious school, SK Agama Majlis Islam Sarawak Mukah, with male and female dormitory facilities.
Additionally, there’s a private Tahfiz, Madrasah Al-Quran Mukah, and two Quran and Fardhu Ain (KAFA) class premises at SK Parish and SK Kuala Balingian.
“SK Agama MIS Mukah can accommodate up to 300 students across 12 classes (Year 1 to 6),” he said in response to Abdul Yakub Arbi (GPS-Balingian) during the question and answer session at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today (Nov 12).
“Currently, there are 279 students enrolled, with 126 male and 153 female.”
He also clarified that under the Education Act 1996 (Act 550), any educational institution with five or more Muslim students must provide Islamic education taught by a state-approved teacher.
