PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) has called on the Education Ministry to withdraw permission given to Rakan Siswa Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (Yadim) to carry out preaching activities (activiti dakwah) in schools and education institutions.

MCCBCHST noted that schools are places of learning and equipping children with proper skills, not places for the propagation of any faith.

The group is "alarmed and disbelieved" by a memo dated Oct 2 from the Education Ministry which allowed Yadim to carry out dakwah activities in schools, teacher's training institutes, polytechnics, community colleges, public universities and selected private universities in Malaysia.

"MCCBCHST looks at the letter with "alarm" because dakwah activities are planned to be carried out on such a wide scale amongst students who are young and impressionable, innocent to worldly ways and very vulnerable.

"With "disbelief" because the schools are places of learning, to acquire knowledge, to enhance competitiveness, to learn science and technology, and other skills, but what is being planned appears to be promotion of Islamic missionary activities amongst students which should not be the concern of national type schools," it said in a statement.

Education Ministry had earlier clarified that the preaching activity was not an act of Islamisation. It also said that the activities do not involve non-Muslim students, vernacular schools and missionary schools.

"We guarantee that Rakan Siswa Yadim must adhere to existing rules and principles of religious freedom for non-Muslim students.

"Schools are also advised to monitor and ensure that the activities does not involve non-Muslim students," the ministry said in a statement.