PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has paired a call for political discipline within the Unity Government with a renewed push to future-proof Malaysia's Islamic education system, signalling that stability in governance and investment in human capital remain key priorities of his administration.
Speaking after attending the Program Madani Kita at the Taman Perpaduan Community Hall in Ipoh on Sunday, Anwar warned that ministers, deputy ministers and heads of federal agencies must not exploit their official positions to attack fellow Unity Government partners during campaigning for the Negeri Sembilan state elections.
He stressed that while candidates were free to debate state issues, they must preserve working relationships within the Federal Government.
"If they hold a position in the Federal Government, they cannot use it to attack their partners or turn this into a political platform for confrontation because they must observe discipline.
"If they choose to do so, they must resign from their position. We must ensure that no one breaches this principle because if there is a violation, I will ask them to step down," he said.
Anwar said the directive followed discussions with Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, adding that all parties agreed federal cooperation must remain intact despite electoral contests at the state level.
"We have reminded the candidates, especially those serving as ministers, deputy ministers or heads of federal agencies, that they may contest issues relating to the state.
"For now, we ask them to exercise restraint so that our relationship at the Federal level remains strong and the government's work can continue uninterrupted.
"Let us manage any political contest at the state level," he said.
Earlier in the day, Anwar outlined the government's vision for a modern Islamic education system while officiating at the 2026 Perak Pondok and Religious Schools Gathering at Sekolah Agama Bantuan Kerajaan (SABK) Maahad Al-Ummah in Chemor.
He announced RM15 million in allocations for pondok schools and religious institutions throughout Perak, together with a special grant of RM300,000 for Maahad Al-Ummah, aimed at upgrading facilities and supporting digital transformation initiatives.
The Prime Minister said the government was determined to ensure students in pondok schools and such religious institution were not left behind in mastering emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
"We will continue to strengthen and elevate religious schools and pondok institutions throughout the country. We will continue the digital transformation initiative for Islamic educational institutions so that new technologies can be introduced and our children will be better prepared to face future challenges.
"I am proud that pondok institutions today are not only strengthening the Islamic tradition and the study of classical religious texts, but are also ready to explore new disciplines such as computers and AI," he said.
Also, present were Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs), Dr Zulkifli Hassan.
Anwar said pondok institutions had played a pivotal role in preserving Islamic faith, knowledge and identity throughout the colonial era and should continue serving as the moral foundation of society while embracing technological progress.
"Malaysia does not merely aspire to become a developed nation in AI, information technology or the energy transition. We want to become a Madani nation that preserves its values, morality and identity.
"That is why pondok institutions and maahad (educational establishment) must continue to be strengthened because they serve as the bastion that safeguards the knowledge, faith and moral values of the Muslim community," he said.
The Prime Minister's twin messages underscored his administration's emphasis on safeguarding the cohesion of the Unity Government while ensuring Malaysia's religious education institutions evolve to meet the demands of an increasingly technology-driven economy. - July 19, 2026
