MACHANG: Religious school teachers nationwide must acquire new knowledge in artificial intelligence (AI) to keep pace with technological developments and strengthen their resilience in Islam, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
He said that without mastering the latest technology, pondok (Islamic religious school) teachers risk being left behind and unprepared to face new challenges in the digital world.
Anwar stressed that while it was important for these teachers to adapt to current needs by learning AI, the traditional practice of teaching through classical texts should remain intact.
“The traditional method of reading classical texts for pondok teachers will not be disrupted and will continue to be preserved.
“What we are doing is adding to it with new demands, namely, the field of AI.
“Without the mastery of AI by pondok teachers, the field will remain an American- and Western-based version,” he said in his speech at the Kelantan Ijtima’ Madani of Ulama and Pondok Teachers here today.
Also present were Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.
At the event, the prime minister presented RM1.03 million in contributions to pondok institutions participating in UMRAN 2025 (Muzakarah Umara’ dan Ulama’ Pondok Kebangsaan 2025).
Anwar also said it was time to rebuild the historical defensive fortifications of the Muslim community to counter secular influences.
“Last month, I called in representatives from the Finance Ministry to explore how we can select pondok institutions to serve once again as fortifications. That is the true meaning of Madani,” he said.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
