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KUALA NERANG, June 9 —The government is strengthening pondok institutions nationwide through strategic collaboration between religious agencies and pondok managements to develop a more dynamic and progressive educational framework.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Zulkifli Hasan said the current focus is on strengthening the pondok education ecosystem in the country.

He said the effort is being carried out through close cooperation between the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), the Malaysian Islamic Dakwah Foundation (YADIM) and pondok institutions nationwide, including those in Kedah.

“We are listening to the views of pondok institutions and identifying their needs. At the same time, we are working together to develop the pondok framework that we envision for the future,” he said when met at the launch of Kedah Madani Daie Coordination Centre and Darull Hikmah 2026 Daurah Kitab Turath programme here yesterday. 

According to him, Jakim, Yadim and pondok institutions were in the midst of working towards developing the framework so that such institution could move in tandem with the national education mainstream without neglecting the identity and traditions of turath studies.

Zulkifli said the government acknowledged the significant potential of pondok institutions to continue growing and playing an important role in producing knowledgeable and morally upright generations.

He said the government had also increased the allocation for maintenance and upgrading works for pondok schools, religious schools and tahfiz institutions from RM150 million last year to RM200 million this year.

“Last year, we successfully carried out maintenance and upgrading works involving about 1,600 pondok institutions, tahfiz centres and religious schools throughout the country. This year’s allocation is underway and several states have already received assistance for repair works and facility improvements,” he said.

He said the initiative was among the government’s commitments, as announced by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, to ensure that the welfare and development of Islamic educational institutions continue to receive attention. 

Commenting on the Darull Hikmah, he said the institution had successfully offered quality educational programmes, particularly in Arabic language proficiency and advancement of Islamic knowledge since its establishment in 2019. — Bernama

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KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — The High Court hearing of the Genting Group family’s will dispute heard today that one of the contested wills was signed at a private hospital while the late Lim Siew Kim, daughter of Lim Goh Tong, was undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer.

Low Beng Choo, 68, a lawyer who prepared two wills for the estate of the late Siew Kim, said one of the wills was signed on April 11, 2022.

He further denied any suggestion that the physical and mental condition of the late Siew Kim, at the time she is alleged to have executed the second will, had impaired her capacity to understand or comprehend the nature and extent of the assets she was disposing of.

Low, the sole remaining trustee of Dikim Foundation, the main beneficiary of Siew Kim’s allegedly RM1 billion estate, testified under cross-examination by lawyer Datuk V. Sithambaram, counsel for two of the deceased’s daughters, Chan T’Shiao Li and Kimberly Chan T’Shiao Miin.

The sisters filed the suit in 2023 against four defendants, including Low and their brother Marcus Chan Jau Chwen, challenging their late mother’s mental capacity to execute the will and alleging suspicious circumstances surrounding its preparation.

Low, the fourth defendant, had drafted and witnessed Siew Kim’s wills dated April 11 and April 28, 2022, and had also acted as a witness to her earlier will dated November 2, 2021.

Sithambaram asked Low if she knew that the deceased was being treated for ovarian cancer, fluid in her lungs causing breathlessness, and other ailments when she was called to Prince Court Medical Centre on April 11, 2022. “I do not know fully,” Low responded.

Sithambaram: Given the physical and mental condition of the deceased, at the time the second will was allegedly executed, in fact, the deceased was not in the position to understand the extent of what she was executing. 

Low: I totally disagree.

Counsel further submitted that Siew Kim had not been assessed as cognitively fit by any qualified medical practitioner, including a psychiatrist or neurologist, before executing the second will. Low again disagreed with the suggestion.

Low informed the court that a doctor had witnessed the signing of the will. She stated that it was her general practice to request a doctor’s presence whenever she witnessed the execution of a will within a hospital setting.

Siew Kim, the third child of the Genting Group founder, succumbed to cancer in July 2022 at the age of 73. She is survived by three daughters and one son.

The hearing before Judge Mahazan Mat Taib resumes tomorrow. — Bernama