Directive Barring Sarawak Ministers From Schools
KUCHING: A political secretary to the chief minister is crying unfairness and double standards over an Education Ministry directive which bars Sarawak ministers and GPS elected representatives from attending school events.
Michael Tiang said the directive was unfair as it did not stop federal ministers and Pakatan Harapan representatives from attending events organised by schools in the state.
He was responding to a recent statement by Federation of Boards of Management for Aided Chinese Primary Schools Sarawak Penghulu Kiu who was informed by the state Education Department director that beginning next year, “state ministers and opposition representatives will not be allowed to attend any school events in Sarawak, except federal ministers and PH representatives.”
“The ministry is being ridiculous and discriminative by issuing such directive. This is double standards as PH ministers and people representatives are allowed to attend events held in Sarawak schools.
“This shows both the minister Dr Maszlee Malik and his deputy Teo Nie Ching have no regards or whatsoever for Sarawak’s autonomy on education and the sentiments of Sarawakians,” he said here yesterday.
Tiang said the ministry should be mindful of the fact that the Sarawak government had contributed state funds to schools in Sarawak, especially Chinese-aided primary schools, although public schools are within Putrajaya’s jurisdiction.
“Being a responsible state government, it is only right for the state ministers and assemblymen to be allowed to visit schools in Sarawak to understand their needs and challenges.
“By barring us, the PH government is not only discriminating against the state government but also isolating Sarawak schools from its own state government for assistance,” he said.
Tiang said the directive is purely a political decision made at the expense of the schools’ welfare and interests and “yet when it comes to the dire needs of our dilapidated schools that require immediate repairs, the PH government is slow in responding despite numerous appeals made by the Sarawak government to Putrajaya”.
“It is a shame indeed that the ministry seems to be more interested in political play than discharging its duties for the benefit of the people of Sarawak,” he said.
