PARENTS have urged the Ministry of Education to relook the requirement for all students under in their educational institutions to wear the Jalur Gemilang badge on their uniforms.
This follows safety concerns which were increased after viral photographs of a girl who had accidentally stepped on a Jalur Gemilang pin that had fallen on the ground.
According to reports in Kwong Wah, the sharp needle pierced her foot and she had to be rushed to hospital.
Photographs of the girl in a wheelchair went viral showing the needle stuck in the sole of her right foot.
According to reports, some schools did not allow the Jalur Gemilang to be sewn onto uniforms and students had to use it as a badge.
Comments from parents said some of their children eventually kept the badge in their pockets after the pin became loose, which was also dangerous.
Though the MOE had earlier said it was not mandatory for all students to wear the badge, parents said their children were made to stand in the school assembly as a punishment if they did not use the badge.
MCA Youth central committee member Lee Kok Seng had also earlier demanded a review of the policy of wearing the Jalur Gemilang badges on school uniforms.
This comes after some of them were allegedly found to be substandard and could pose a risk to students.
He claimed that numerous issues have been reported, including sharp pins, insecure fastenings, fragile materials, and the pins becoming detached from their plastic backing.
“Students are highly active in school, often engaging in sports and extracurricular activities. A low-quality badge could result in unpredictable bodily harm. Exposing children to such risks is irresponsible,” he had said in a statement. – May 7, 2025
