KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged pondok school teachers to embrace information technology (IT) and artificial intelligence (AI) as essential tools to safeguard Malaysia’s Islamic education from being shaped by foreign ideologies.
Warning that ignorance of modern technologies could leave traditional religious institutions vulnerable to “a new wave of attacks” targeting the mind, Anwar said mastering AI is no longer optional.
“If we do not master it, others will, and our children will adopt AI based on frameworks from the United States or France,” he said.
“We must ensure our children have resilience, an understanding of Islam, and the wisdom to chart their own future.”
Anwar was speaking at the opening of the Kelantan Islamic Scholars and Pondok Teachers 2025 assembly at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Machang today.
Also present were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Na’im Mokhtar, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, and Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud.
He stressed that integrating AI into religious education would not only strengthen Malaysia’s Islamic identity but also equip future generations to compete globally without compromising their faith. – August 9, 2025