THE government has allocated nearly RM16 million to 65 Islamic educational institutions in Kelantan over the past two years, as part of efforts to strengthen religious education and improve learning facilities, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
The allocations comprise RM9.36 million for 23 institutions in 2025 and a further RM6.628 million approved this year for 42 institutions.
Anwar said the government was also working on proposals to enable students from traditional Islamic religious schools, or pondok, to pursue higher education up to university level.
He said several Islamic scholars had been tasked with formulating the proposals to ensure pondok students could further their studies without compromising their religious and scholarly foundations.
The initiative was aimed at ensuring traditional religious institutions were not marginalised and their students could keep pace with national development, he said after performing Maghrib prayers at Madrasah Ar-Rahmaniah Ad-Diniah Pondok Lubuk Tapah in Kota Bharu on Saturday.
Anwar said pondok institutions played an important role beyond religious education, including safeguarding the Islamic faith, preserving religious values and strengthening the Muslim community.
He added that the government would continue improving the education system and upgrading pondok facilities nationwide to provide a more conducive learning environment.
Earlier, Anwar presented a RM200,000 contribution to Madrasah Ar-Rahmaniah Ad-Diniah Pondok Lubuk Tapah.
At a separate event, he said government assistance also covered periodic maintenance and repairs, mosque facility upgrades and dialysis treatment support for those in need.
He also announced approval for robotic surgical technology at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia in Kubang Kerian to improve healthcare services in Kelantan. - November 1, 2026
