Religious intolerance in schools must be tackled early, says MP

Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin has called for urgent action to combat religious intolerance in Malaysian schools, citing instances where pupils decline to sit alongside classmates from other faiths.

Mongin stressed that addressing prejudice at the primary education stage is critical to preventing the problem from escalating into a more entrenched social division. He warned that tolerating such behaviour early could allow intolerance to take root and become increasingly difficult to reverse as students progress through their schooling.

The concerns reflect broader discussions about religious harmony in Malaysian schools, where students from diverse Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu and other faith backgrounds learn together. Education officials have previously emphasised the importance of fostering mutual respect and understanding among pupils of different religious backgrounds.

Experts and policymakers have long advocated for interfaith dialogue and inclusive education programmes in schools as tools to build social cohesion among Malaysia's multi-religious student population. The issue underscores the ongoing challenge of maintaining religious tolerance in an increasingly diverse education system.