KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 -- MARA chairman Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki has launched a strong defence of the agency's efforts to turn Tahfiz students into professionals - including pilots - after a wave of negative comments on social media belittling the initiative.

In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, Asyraf expressed his dismay over remarks left under a Malay Mail news post that questioned and ridiculed MARA's push to elevate the status of Quran memorisers (huffaz) into high-skilled career fields.

"It pains me to see the negative comments on MalayMail's Facebook section, trying to belittle and challenge MARA's efforts to uplift Tahfiz students as professionals, including pilots," he said.

"What do they think - that these Tahfiz stu...