By Asia Samachar | Malaysia |
Panjabi language centres operating under the supervision of Khalsa Diwan Malaysia (KDM) have received a total of RM265,000 in federal government funding this year to support language education initiatives nationwide.
The Ipoh-headquartered organisation acknowledged the allocation on the sidelines of a three-day education programme in Kuala Lumpur last week, which brought together Panjabi language teachers from across the country.
“This funding really helps us sustain our efforts to impart the language to our children. It has benefitted 35 of our centres,” KDM president Jagindar Singh told Asia Samachar.
The RM265,000 is the total received by the various Panjabi Education Centres (PECs) nationwide overseen by KDM in 2025.
Most PECs operate on weekends and cater to students from the Sikh community. This year also marks the 25th anniversary of KDM’s Panjabi education programme, a milestone reflecting its long-standing commitment to mother-tongue instruction.
The organisation’s efforts received a further boost on Dec 16 when Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek attended one of KDM’s events, signalling federal recognition of the role played by community-based language institutions, particularly in teacher development and curriculum quality.
In a separate engagement, Shanmugam Mookan, Special Officer for Indian Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office, was also present at a KDM-related programme.
KDM said continued support remains crucial as it works to strengthen teacher training and ensure Panjabi language transmission among younger generations.
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