Cities / Kuala Lumpur / International Modern Arabic School Kuala Lumpur
International Modern Arabic School Kuala Lumpur
Established in 2007, IMAS operates as a bilingual institution using both Arabic and English as primary languages of instruction, following the British curriculum from primary through pre university levels.
In brief
International Modern Arabic School teaches Arabic and English with equal weight along a British pathway, and parents name it the go-to school in Kuala Lumpur for Arab and Muslim expatriate families wanting both languages. Founded in 2007 with 220 pupils, the Putrajaya school has grown to more than 1,600 aged 4–18 and is a registered Cambridge centre running IGCSE through to A Level, with 59 per cent of grades at A* to A in the June 2021 IGCSEs. Annual fees of MYR 9,500–14,500 place it among Kuala Lumpur's more affordable international schools.
Parents describe the teachers as friendly and knowledgeable, and the yearly calendar of Arabic Day, Malay Day, sports day and debate competitions is a draw. Saleem Moghalis is the principal.
Recurring parent complaints centre on discipline and bus safety, including unsupervised bus departures with bullying, and a minority describe teachers as rude. Some non-Arab parents say their children are not given equal preference in cultural and sports activities, and families flag the heavily Arab and Muslim parent body as a strength or a fit issue depending on background.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| KG1 | 4 | MYR 9,500 |
| KG2 | 5 | MYR 9,500 |
| Grade 1 | 6 | MYR 13,000 |
| Grade 2 | 7 | MYR 13,000 |
| Grade 3 | 8 | MYR 13,000 |
| Grade 4 | 9 | MYR 13,000 |
| Grade 5 | 10 | MYR 13,000 |
| Grade 6 | 11 | MYR 13,000 |
| Grade 7 | 12 | MYR 14,500 |
| Grade 8 | 13 | MYR 14,500 |
| Grade 9 | 14 | MYR 14,500 |
| Grade 10 | 15 | MYR 14,500 |
| Grade 11 | 16 | MYR 14,500 |
| A-Level 3 Subjects (annualised from RM 18,500 over 18-month programme) | 17 | MYR 12,333 |
| A-Level 4 Subjects (annualised from RM 20,300 over 18-month programme) | 17 | MYR 13,533 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Chromebook device | MYR 1,960 |
Reviews
- Parents and expat families name IMAS as the go-to bilingual Arabic-English school for Muslim and Arab expat families, with one parent telling a relocating parent to "google IMAS" as a default option.
- Parents writing on directory and aggregator pages praise the bilingual immersion, the IGCSE pathway, and a teacher cohort described as friendly and knowledgeable. Yearly events flagged as a draw include Arabic Day, Malay Day, sports day, and debate competitions.
- Critical reviews exist alongside the positive pool. Recurring complaints from parents are around discipline, bus safety, and a sense among non-Arab families that their children get less weight in cultural and sports activities.
- The school is large, fast-grown (220 students in 2007 to 1,600+ today), and the parent body is heavily Arab and Muslim, which families flag as a strength or a fit issue depending on background.
Positives
- Bilingual Arabic-English immersion. Parents value Arabic and English taught with equal weight; IMAS is positioned as the main option in KL for families wanting both.
- Cambridge IGCSE pathway. Registered Cambridge centre; parents flag the IGCSE route and broad extracurriculars as reasons to choose IMAS.
Considerations
- Community fit and cultural balance. Strong sense of belonging for Arab and Muslim families; some non-Arab parents say their children are not given equal preference in cultural and sports activities.
- Discipline and supervision concerns. A minority of reviews cite poor discipline, rude teachers, and unsupervised bus departures with bullying.
Leadership
Saleem Moghalis
Saleem Moghalis serves as Principal of IMAS International Modern Arabic School in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. His professional experience centers on educational leadership at international schools, with his current role confirmed across LinkedIn, business directories like RocketReach and ZoomInfo, and school listing sites like GoToUniversity.
Academic results
- 2021 JUNE IGCSE RESULTS 36% - A*
- Result 59% - A* - A
- 74% - A* - B. Subject specific A*-B Physics 75%, Chemistry 76.8%, Biology 71%, English SL 86.5%, Mathematics SL 65.6%, Add Math 68.6%, ICT 75.6%, FL Arabic 97.7%, FL Malay 93.3%.
Location
Jalan P14k, Presint 14, 62050 Putrajaya, Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya, Malaysia