Islamic and Religious Schools in Malaysia: SABK, Religious Schools and Tahfiz

A child in Malaysia might spend the morning at a national school, the afternoon in a mosque KAFA class, and their teenage years in a tahfiz dormitory — three different educational environments with different supervisors, curricula and laws. The Islamic religious education stream runs parallel to the national system, but it is not a single bloc. Understanding who registers what, and who is responsible for what, is the key to reading public debate on this topic fairly.

What are the main streams of religious education?

Broadly, formal Islamic religious education in Malaysia can be viewed in several overlapping layers:

• National schools — offer Islamic Education as a core subject within the MOE national curriculum.
• Government-Aided Religious Schools (SABK) — religious schools that have been registered with and are administered by the MOE, delivering a dual curriculum.
• Community religious schools (SAR) and state religious schools (SAN) — run by communities or state governments; some later register as SABK.
• Al-Quran and Fardu Ain (KAFA) classes — basic religious classes for primary-school children, under the coordination of JAKIM and state religious authorities.
• Tahfiz institutions — focused on Quranic memorisation; may be federal, state, or private.

An important feature shaping the whole picture is the division of powers. Under the Federal Constitution, Islamic religious affairs are largely a state matter. This means that many religious institutions are subject to state Islamic religious departments or councils, not solely federal bodies — a key reason for the diversity of registration practices between states.

How does a SABK differ from other religious schools?

A SABK is a mechanism that brings an existing religious school into MOE administration while retaining its religious identity. According to the MOE, SABK are “registered with the Ministry of Education Malaysia” and “administered by the MOE”, and deliver a dual curriculum — a religious curriculum and a national curriculum — with the Malaysian Higher Religious Certificate (STAM) retained.

Among the requirements listed by the MOE for a school to register as a SABK:

Requirement	Details
Existing registration	Already registered with the State Religious Department (JAIN)
Operations	Full-time schooling
Number of students	Minimum of 150 students
Building site	Built on land with waqf status
Safety	Complies with Local Authority safety, health and planning standards
Finances	No outstanding debts

As of 29 January 2026, MOE Secretary-General Datuk Aminuddin Hassim stated that a total of 234 religious schools nationwide had registered as SABK, with a number of further applications in process. For schools that choose this registration, the attractions include government aid and teacher structuring; for some operators, concerns about maintaining curriculum and administrative autonomy are a consideration. Both views exist in public discussion.

What are KAFA classes and who runs them?

KAFA is the most widely reached layer of religious education for children. According to JAKIM, KAFA means “Al-Quran and Fardu Ain classes running from Year 1 to Year 6”. It usually runs outside the national school timetable, in surau, mosques or dedicated buildings.

Key features as stated by JAKIM:

• Curriculum and textbooks are set by JAKIM.
• Implementation is handled by state religious authorities as the implementing agency.
• Assessment is done through the KAFA Class Assessment Test (UPKK).
• KAFA teacher allowances are paid by the Federal Government through JAKIM.

This arrangement reflects the “coordinate at the centre, implement at the state” pattern that recurs in Malaysian religious education: federal bodies set the standards, while state machinery carries out day-to-day operations.

How are tahfiz institutions regulated?

Tahfiz institutions — which focus on Quranic memorisation, often with dormitories — are the most diverse part of the religious stream and the most frequently discussed in terms of oversight. Some are run by the federal or state governments, but many are private, under the jurisdiction of state religious departments.

The extent of registration is a focus of discussion. A Bernama report estimated that roughly 1,000 tahfiz centres operate without registration nationwide, including around 800 in Selangor alone. Some states have introduced measures to close this gap — for example, Selangor launched a registration regularisation programme starting 1 January 2021, and revised guidelines that some operators had previously considered too strict.

Stakeholders offer differing views on the causes of this gap. Among the factors cited are a registration process seen as burdensome, building-compliance constraints, and questions of jurisdiction between federal, state and local parties. The authorities, for their part, emphasise that registration enables better oversight, aid and safety monitoring.

What safety issues have been reported?

Building safety, particularly of dormitories, is among the most documented issues. The worst incident occurred on 14 September 2017, when a fire at Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah in Kampung Datuk Keramat, Kuala Lumpur claimed 23 lives — 21 students and two teachers. Reports state that the victims were trapped on the upper floor due to limited exits, and the fire was later investigated as a deliberate act.

Other incidents have continued to be reported in subsequent years. For example, Bernama recorded a fire in July 2023 at a dormitory in Kampung Medan, Teluk Panglima Garang, Kuala Langat that housed 20 male students and was registered with the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS).

Following such incidents, updated guidelines emphasise basic safety features such as accessible staircases and clearly visible fire extinguishers. Policy discussion has also touched on the need for specific legislation, clear provisions for dormitories, and periodic building audits and maintenance by the Local Authorities. These issues are presented here as matters that have been reported and debated, not as a comprehensive assessment of any institution.

What’s next

If you are assessing a religious institution, two basic questions help: which body it is registered under (the MOE, a state religious department, or both) and how its building safety compliance is verified by the Local Authorities and the Fire Department. Registration status can usually be checked with the relevant state Islamic religious department.

Because Islamic religious affairs are largely a state matter, the details of requirements and processes vary between states — consult the official website of your state religious department for the latest requirements. This draft is explanatory; it does not take sides in the policy debate and does not replace official advice from the relevant authorities.