Politicisation of Education in Malaysia

A Sabah-based NGO has singled out the politicisation of education as the factor that has divided Malaysia along racial lines. Fazar Arif, founder of Pergerakan Orang Wanita — Empowerment and Revolution, claims that the racial politics practised today has had a significant impact on the curriculum, education policy and management of schools. National schools, envisioned as the great unifier after Merdeka, have increasingly taken on religious and racial undertones, and alienated non-Malay and non-Muslim students in the process. Fazar was commenting on the introduction of a new policy requiring students to wear the Jalur Gemilang badge on their uniform, a practice that the government says will foster unity.She questioned why no political party, has been seen or heard leading serious discussions or conversations among the people or fellow legislators on reforming the education system to foster integration, a more meaningful growth and advancement as a nation.

 

Source:https://www.wikiimpact.com

 

The current education system tends to push the propaganda of the so-called social contract among the three major races in Malaysia. Rectifying the problem would be a monumental task, as it requires political will.

 

Firstly, Fazar said, there is a need to acknowledge that racial division in the country’s school system is real and that it has been compounded by decades of political interference.

 

Secondly, she said, the government must reimagine national schools as truly inclusive institutions. She pointed out that there is a need to remove racial and religious supremacy narratives from the curriculum and make national schools genuinely secular and multiracial in terms of administration, personnel and curriculum. There is also a need to ensure all students are fluent in Bahasa Malaysia and English, but steps must also be taken to strengthen mother tongue languages, such as Mandarin, Tamil and indigenous languages. Is this ever possible with the current Minister of Education?

 

However, Johor is making an unprecedented move to reform its education system by turning to Singapore’s National Institute of Education (NIE) to upskill local teachers — a bold step that could reshape the state’s economic future. With a strong focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and English language instruction, the initiative aims not only to raise academic standards but also to stem the tide of brain drain that has long plagued Malaysia’s southernmost state. This pilot effort, known as the Bangsa Johor Schools programme, was spearheaded by the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, in 2024.

 

Johor’s strategy is clear: Improve the quality of teaching, especially in STEM and English, to develop a future-ready, skilled workforce. The ultimate aim is to reduce the state’s reliance on low-wage jobs in neighbouring Singapore and instead retain talent to drive growth within Johor. The Johor government has earmarked RM6.22 million (S$1.85 million) in its 2025 budget to support this pilot. This budget covers 4,300 students and 212 teachers across the four schools in Johor Bahru.

 

Whether this will become a blueprint for other Malaysian states or remain a unique experiment in education diplomacy, one thing is clear: Johor is not waiting for change; rather, it is leading it. And so is Sarawak!

 

References:

NGO rues politicisation of education in Malaysia, Sean Augustin, FMT, 26 April 2025

 

Johor turns to Singapore’s NIE to raise school standards and curb brain drain, Merzsam Singkee, The Independent Singapore, 20 April 2025