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EDUCATION Minister Fadhlina Sidek has called on parties spreading false information that a Ministry of Education programme was conducted at a church to apologise, warning that the misinformation could create unnecessary public misunderstanding and disrupt community harmony during Ramadan.
Fadhlina clarified that the engagement session in question was held at Assumption International Secondary School in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, and not at any religious institution.
The event involved discussions with stakeholders from private schools and preschools and was conducted in the school hall.
“The session took place in the school hall, not in a church as alleged. The event was attended by many stakeholders and the allegation is completely untrue...the discussions went well, so the claim has no basis,” she told reporters after officiating the Ministry’s breaking-of-fast event last night.
The minister stressed that the viral claim could inflame unnecessary confusion among the public and urged the party responsible for the slander to come forward and apologise, describing the allegations as false and malicious.
The Ministry of Education has since issued statements to clarify the situation, emphasising that the programme was part of official engagement with private kindergartens and international schools in the northern zone. Education Director-General Datuk Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad expressed disappointment over the unfounded allegations and reaffirmed that the school was chosen for its amenities and facilities, as well as to highlight the role of international schools in Malaysia’s private education ecosystem. - March 14, 2026