KOTA KINABALU – Schools in the Borneo regions are now given the choice on whether to hold the Palestine Solidarity Week in tandem with an Education Ministry (MoE) circular earlier.
Sabah minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe said he has received confirmation from Deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying that schools in Sabah are not obligated to enforce this directive.
“Last night, after concluding official visits in Brunei, I immediately obtained confirmation through text messages from Lim that schools in Sabah and Sarawak have flexibility on holding Palestine Solidarity Week.
“I believe that this activity should not only be discouraged in Sabah but also should not take place throughout Malaysia.
“The Education Ministry should encourage schools to teach the importance of peace instead of involving children, who lack the capacity for judgement, in complex political manoeuvres,” said the Sabah industrial development minister.
Phoong said MoE and the government should keep all schools and education institutions in Malaysia away from international political conflicts.
Consider young students’ wellbeing
The Luyang state assemblyman said students should attend school to acquire knowledge rather than being involved in protests around the world.
“Based on humanitarian support, I acknowledge the unity government’s stance in supporting Palestine.
“However, I emphasise that underage students should not participate in any form of political activities, especially being involved in conflicts abroad, as it would affect the physical, mental, and spiritual development of underage students,” he said.
Phoong said he strongly opposes acts of war and violence and expressed prayer for an early resolution to the crisis.
A ministry circular had designated October 29 to November 3 as Palestine Solidarity Week.
All schools under its purview nationwide were reportedly instructed to hold this event in support of Palestine, after Israel escalated its bombing of Gaza in recent weeks.
Israel’s heightened aggression against the occupied Palestinian territory came after armed resistance group Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7.
Parents fear exposure of ‘radical views’
Palestine Solidarity Week in MoE schools has also sparked controversy and opposition from other state lawmakers, as well as various Sabah-based organisations and non-governmental organisations.
Mas Gading MP Mordi Bimol said many parents of school-going children in Sarawak and other parts of Malaysia have expressed deep concern at the ministry supposedly forcing students into getting entangled in the crisis.
The Sarawak DAP vice chairman added that most parents across the racial and religious divide do not want their young children to be exposed to radical views or violence.
“Many parents are objecting to the move by the Education Ministry to drag students into the Palestine-Israel conflict by forcing them to hold activities to support the Palestine cause in their schools next week.
“Many parents are against the nature of the activities that the ministry has instructed schools and other education institutions to organise in order to show support for Palestine.
“These parents do not want to see their school going kids exposed to political and ideological conflicts and wars and forced to take sides,” he said in a statement today.
Mordi said that he and Sibu MP Oscar Ling had on Wednesday met with Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and Lim in Putrajaya to express their worries and those of the parents.
“The minister said she is willing to re-evaluate the activities and programmes,” he said.
“"For Sarawak schools, such activities will not be mandatory.” – The Vibes, October 27, 2023
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