Collective Religious Duty towards Younger Generation

An ugly trend has emerged: bullying in our schools. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor has quickly taken a stand on this issue in the past, saying "I personally feel very disappointed and deeply saddened. The bullying culture has become widespread in learning centres and schools in Sabah, and we must tackle and address it seriously.” What is also disturbing is that the incidences of bullying have been politicised and weaponised by the Opposition, who spread false propaganda, fake news and slander.

Hajiji has said that what the Opposition is doing is a malicious tactic aimed at demeaning or destroying the reputation of honest and innocent political leaders and this dirty tactic gets dirtier as the state election draws near. The Opposition maliciously uses any issues to spread falsehood including the economy, security, health, the environment, and the 3R (Race, Religion and Royalty), where even the institution of the Yang Di-Pertua Negeri has been attacked and belittled. The bullying cases – some of which have tragically taken lives of young pupils - have been sensationalised by irresponsible netizens, who have resorted to lying, spreading fake news, and slandering targeted individuals. Hajiji shared his feelings at the Du'at Convention on 26 August 2025 at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), Kota Kinabalu.

“The bullying should not have occurred. What is even more disheartening is that bullying among students has also taken place in religious schools. What exactly has happened? How could bullying exists within an institution that bears the symbol of the sanctity of Islam? Where did we go wrong?” Hajiji said.

The Chief Minister believed that Islamic religious affairs convention is a right avenue to reflect on and evaluate weaknesses, correct shortcomings not only in schools but also in organisations, whether they belong to the government or the private sector. What is challenging to us is that Information Technology has created a borderless world, and information travels immediately at the command of fingertips. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now beginning to re-shape our society.

"Despite bringing benefits and conveniences, technology can also pose serious threats and challenges to us, and especially Muslims, if it misused or weaponised to produce false infographics, audio or videos with the intent to destabilise the Muslim community worldwide. Our younger generation face these risks and challenges. People use technology to influence and dominate our minds and thinking. The task of educating the younger generation and shaping members of society is a fardhu kifayah (a collective religious duty) that brings great reward. Parents, educators, preachers, leaders of organisations and community leaders play critical roles to guide and protect our young,” Hajiji added.