<figure id="attachment_3271552" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3271552" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3271552 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/03938f23-zambry-kadir-310126.webp" alt="Zambry Abd Kadir" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3271552" class="wp-caption-text">Higher education minister Zambry Abd Kadir said further discussions are scheduled for next week on teaching Bahasa Melayu and History in independent schools.</figcaption></figure>
PUTRAJAYA: The government’s move to make Bahasa Melayu and History compulsory subjects in religious, international and private schools should not be seen as a form of coercion, says higher education minister Zambry Abd Kadir.
He said the new education policy aims to ensure that all Malaysians have fair access to education.
“We need to correct the perception that this is a form of coercion. What we’re looking at is the creation of opportunities for every Malaysian to access education,” he said.
Zambry said detailed discussions on teaching Bahasa Melayu and History in independent schools have already begun at the education ministry, including initial talks with three key groups.
“The focus now is on accreditation and ensuring that students’ qualifications meet recognition requirements for university applications,” he said.
Zambry said further discussions are scheduled for next week.
The government would not rush its decisions or base them solely on individual opinions, but would follow a comprehensive consultation process before finalising anything, he said.
The new policy was announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim last week. He said it applies to all schools, including independent Chinese-media schools offering the Unified Examination Certificate.

MatchPoint Times

Policy on compulsory BM, History is not coercion, says Zambry

The higher education minister said the new education policy only seeks to ensure all Malaysians have equal access to education.

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