<figure id="attachment_3062356" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3062356" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3062356 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2992ef96-tabika-perpaduan-bernama-180525-1.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3062356" class="wp-caption-text">The government-sponsored Tabika Perpaduan kindergartens are open to all children, said the director-general of national unity and integration department. (Bernama pic)</figcaption></figure>
PETALING JAYA: The national unity and integration department is working closely with the education ministry to think of ways to increase the number of non-Malay children enrolled in &#8220;Tabika Perpaduan&#8221; preschools.
The department&#8217;s director-general, Che Roslan Che Daud, said enrolment in these preschools remained overwhelmingly Malay, making up 26,835 of the total 34,889 pupils, or 77%, as of February.
Chinese and Indian children make up only 1.3% and 5.6% respectively, while children of other ethnicities make up the rest.
Roslan said his department is planning to hold outreach programmes and awareness campaigns to boost non-Malay enrolment and ensure a more balanced makeup in these preschools, Bernama reported.
He said they also plan to integrate the department&#8217;s unity-focused module in other kindergartens registered with the government.
&#8220;We believe that the best way to foster unity among Malaysians is to start young, which is why we&#8217;re urging all communities to be part of this effort,&#8221; he was quoted as saying.
Roslan said some non-Malay parents may have misconceptions about Tabika Perpaduan preschools, and assumed that the preschools were meant only for Malay children.
“That’s not true. The word &#8216;perpaduan&#8217; (unity) itself reflects inclusivity. It is open to all and we want to correct this misunderstanding.&#8221;
First introduced in 1976 under Putrajaya&#8217;s community relations plan, there are currently 1,781 Tabika Perpaduan preschools across the country.

MatchPoint Times

Moves to boost non-Malay enrolment in Tabika Perpaduan

Chinese and Indian children make up only 1.3% and 5.6% respectively of those in the government-sponsored preschools.

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