KUCHING: A group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from Sabah and Sarawak have urged the Ministry of Education to keep international politics, conflicts, religious disputes and war-cries out of schools and education institutions.
The NGOs have expressed shock over a notice from the Ministry of Education dated Oct 21, calling for schools to demonstrate and observe a solidarity week in support of the Palestinian cause where six activities have been proposed to be carried out in all schools.
“We are deeply concerned over this controversial event by a simple administrative ruling without discussing its appropriateness at Dewan Rakyat or without consulting the parents.
“The proposed action has not been adequately considered for its long-term impact. We NGO’s here are seemingly reflecting community views as well,” the NGOs said in a statement.
“We are looking at the seriousness of dragging school children into becoming part of the global, grown up adult world of protests and not subject young minds getting embroiled in this Middle East crisis.
“We caution that the six propositions can go wrong and be a cause for concern and with far-reaching repercussions.”
The NGOs said that parents send their children for academic progress as well as for mental and social balance, developing, learning and interacting with other pupils of other races and religious faiths.
A school should be a place for instilling moral ethics and values that enrich a multiracial, multicultural and multireligious Malaysian society.
They urged the Ministry of Education and the government to keep international conflicts out of schools in Malaysia.
The NGOs also raised their concerns that the federal unity government under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is giving the impression of angling the Israel-Hamas war also from a religious perspective as well as taking political and territorial sides.
“The government has clearly taken sides and joined various quarters globally hinting anti-semitism. Malaysia has a long track record, known globally, as a peace loving and peace keeping nation.
“We should stand up for peace and demand for the halting of all civilian casualties and not spike the crisis further by siding one nation state while condemning another with racist undertones.
“Malaysia should be focusing more on reviving our economic crisis and the fall of Malaysian ringgit in the wake of this Middle East war,” the NGOs said.
They said the government also needs to consider Malaysian students who are studying abroad; their welfare and safety cannot be jeopardised as a result of the government’s stand on the war crisis.
Thus, they said, the government needs to bear in mind that many Malaysians travelling abroad would be subjected to visa refusals or any form of life-threatening situation.
Among the NGOs in support of the collective statement were Global Human Rights Federation (GHRF), Persatuan Bekas Pelajar Sekolah Tamil Malaysia (PERTAMA), Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo) Independent Coalition Of Natives, Sarawak (I-CON) Gindol Initiative for Civil Society Borneo, Pertubuhan kebajikan Rumpun Dayak Sabah, Persatuan pembangunan sosial komuniti Sabah (BANGUN), Party Bumi Kenyalang Sarawak, Sarawak Association for People’s Aspirations, Persatuan Kebajikan Persaudaraan Sahabat Miri Sarawak, Persatuan Etnik Dayak Asal Sarawak, Gerempung Raban Dayak Kuching, Malaysia Chinese Educated Students Association, Centre for Education Excellence-Hindu Agamam Ani Malaysia, Malaysian Action for Justice and Unity Foundation (Maju), Persatuan Patriot Kebangsaan and The Society for Kuching Urban Poor.
