The Cabinet has approved the introduction of khat in Bahasa Melayu subject for Year Four students in vernacular schools to be implemented as planned from next year.

“The Cabinet also decided that the introduction of khat will be made optional, with teachers having the power to decide on their own methods of implementation,” said Education Minister Maszlee Malik at a press conference yesterday.

When announcing the decision, Maszlee said the introduction of khat would be contained in three pages of the Bahasa Melayu textbook.

Previously, the ministry announced that the teaching of khat would be made compulsory, igniting concerns it was aimed at establishing Islamisation in vernacular schools, which Maszlee denied.