THE PENANG MIC has expressed regret at an apparent lapse by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek at a Tamil school in Penang after she allegedly failed to observe expected decorum by not delivering a speech during an official visit there last Saturday.
Its chairman Datuk J. Dhinagaran also claimed that a traditional Tamil song was initially disallowed by state education officials, but it was eventually performed at the insistence of a Penang state executive councillor.
Fadhlina was present as the guest of honour at SJKT Subramaniya Barathee in Jalan Bukit Gambir where she had joined a simple ceremony at the school’s new block, which is under construction.
The MP for Nibong Tebal, which is also in Penang, had among other things planted a tree at the site.
Dhinagaran, who was present, later claimed that the minister did not deliver a speech at the event despite being a representative of the government of the day.
"Being only present physically and not delivering her message to all was a big shock for those present at the function," he said in a statement yesterday.
The minister should have used the platform to reach out to the Indian community on the government’s initiatives and programmes, he added.
According to Dhinagaran, there were also protocols and conditions imposed on the organisers by the state education authorities from the beginning.
The organisers were pushed to the limit to reach some high standard as though the event involved royalty or the governor, Dhinagaran claimed.
"Was all this done with the knowledge and instruction of the Education Minister, or was it an effort by PPD (district education office) and JPN (state Education Department) to impress the Minister?” he asked.
“Evan, the 'Tamil Valthu' song was initially forced to be scrapped,” he added.
“Upon learning about this, I approached Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo (executive councillor), who then gave instructions to the JPN officials to play the song at the event."
The event was a golden opportunity to show the ministry's responsibility towards the development of Tamil schools in the country, said Dhinagaran.
"But the reluctance to even give a speech is clear indication that the Education Ministry has little regard for the Tamil school issues.
"The Penang MIC is clearly disappointed with the attitude of the Minister as well as the state and district education departments," he said.
"Everyone should realise that the government promotes national unity and there is no place for little Napoleons to make their own rules in the country."
A state Education Department officer, who preferred not to be named, told The Vibes that the matter could have been due to miscommunication between the organisers and the authorities.
"The minister may not have been informed over the need to provide a speech," the officer said.
When contacted for comment yesterday, a staff member at Fadhlina’s office said that Dhinagaran's statement had been deleted from his Facebook account, but nonetheless checks will be made on the allegations.
A call was then made to Dhinagaran who said he stood by his assertion in the statement. He did not explain why it was later pulled down from Facebook.
This is the second regretful incident involving the education authorities and the Indian community in Fadhlina’s home state of Penang.
In late November last year, Sundarajoo had expressed unhappiness over an incident at the National Tamil Language Carnival 2023 in Kepala Batas where participants were barred from reciting the ‘Kadavul Valthu’ Tamil hymn and the ‘Tamil Valthu’ song at the start of the programme.
Fadhlina later apologised to the Indian community over the prohibition of the traditional songs.
She said she took full responsibility for the incident and expressed her deep regret.
The matter was also brought up in Parliament later with a few MPs feeling disturbed at what happened.
They also questioned why Tamil philosopher and literature icon Thiruvalluvar’s image was removed from the carnival banner.
The Education Ministry officer who banned the two Tamil songs at the event was later transferred, – The Vibes, February 5, 2024.
