Stop politicising school canteen issue, MP tells PAS

A MEMBER of Parliament today urged PAS and Perikatan Nasional to stop tainting the school canteen issue with their 'narrow politics'.

Syahredzan Johan, who is the MP for Bangi said there were various reasons why the school canteen should remain open during Ramadan.

"In a school, there are non-Muslim students and teachers who do not fast. In addition, Muslim children, although they must be taught to fast, not all of them are required to fast.

"We should not forget about previously reported incidents where non-Muslim children were forced to eat in school toilets and inappropriate places during the fasting month. 

"Do PAS leaders like Ahmad Yahaya have no compassion for these children?" he said in a statement.

Yesterday, the PAS ulama council said the Education Ministry’s directive for school canteens to operate during Ramadan was “excessive” and triggered “unnecessary” controversy among the people.

Council chief Datuk Ahmad Yahaya said the ministry should be focusing on educating Muslim students on the importance of fasting and their non-Muslim counterparts to respect the practice.

“Closing school canteens during Ramadan was a practice and a societal norm to respect fasting Muslims.

“Fadhlina Sidek (education minister) had hastily issued the directive which was disrespectful towards the holy month of Ramadan.

“We are not stopping the non-Muslim students from eating during the day, but it is also a form of ‘education’ for them to respect the Ramadan month since their schooling years,” the Pokok Sena MP said.

Syahredzan said the purpose and intention of Fadhlina's announcement are good and centred on humanitarian values, and it is sad when there are PAS and PN leaders who turn this matter into a political polemic.

"Once again, PAS and PN proved that their political stance is not compatible with a multi-racial and religious country like Malaysia. They are more inclined to issue statements that divide the community instead of fostering unity.

"I urge PAS and PN to stop politicising this. Things like this should not be tainted with their narrow politics," he added.- The Vibes, March 13, 2024