Bukit mertajam: The Ministry of Education (MoE) has issued a firm denial regarding allegations that a recent engagement session with private kindergarten stakeholders in the northern zone was conducted in a church, as widely circulated on social media.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Education director-general Datuk Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad expressed his dissatisfaction with the baseless accusations and clarified that the meeting took place in the Assumption International Secondary School hall in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. The venue, which holds registration with the ministry, was chosen for its strategic amenities and facilities and to emphasize the importance of international schools within the nation's private education framework. Dr Mohd Azam highlighted that the choice of location underscores the collaborative relationship between the MoE and private education providers.

Dr Mohd Azam further criticized the viral claims as malicious, suggesting they were intended to sow confusion and damage the reputation of the ministry. He appealed to the public to reflect on the lessons of the Ramadan month, urging all parties to focus on acts of worship and to refrain from engaging in slanderous activities.