Kota Kinabalu: Seventeen Sabah and Sarawak NGOs have jointly released a statement expressing outrage over a Ministry of Education advisory calling on all schools to demonstrate and observe a solidarity week in support of the Palestinian cause.
The NGOs claiming to be reflecting community views are Global Human Rights Federation (GHRF), Persatuan Bekas Pelajar Sekolah Tamil Malaysia (Pertama), Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo), Independent Coalition Of Natives, Sarawak, Gindol Initiative for Civil Society Borneo, Pertubuhan kebajikan Rumpun Dayak Sabah, Persatuan pembangunan sosial komuniti Sabah (Bangun), Bumi Kenyalang Sarawak, Sarawak Association for People’s Aspirations, Persatuan Kebajikan Persaudaraan Sahabat Miri Sarawak, Persatuan Etnik Dayak Asal Sarawak, Gerempung Raban Dayak Kuching, Malaysia Chinese Educated Students Association, Centre for Education Excellence – Hindu Agamam Ani Msia, Maju, Persatuan Patriot Kebangsaan, and The Society for Kuching Urban Poor.
A notice from the Ministry’s Office of the Deputy Director-General of Education on Oct 21, 2023, proposed six activities to be carried out in all schools.
The Palestine’s Solidarity Week programme from Oct. 29 until Nov. 3, 2023 is supposed to be a sign of togetherness of KPM and students involving all education institutions such as schools, vocational colleges, matriculation colleges and teachers’ education institution throughout the country, in supporting global humanitarian values.
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1) Launching of the Palestine Solidarity Week at school level during morning assembly;
2) Launching of a fund to be donated to the Palestinians;
3) Showing a suitable video and songs that are appropriate with humanitarian matters in Palestine;
4) Implementing spiritual activities involving Muslim students such as organising special “hajat” prayer and praying;
5) Implementing special co-curriculum activities related to humanitarian issue in Palestine such as organising a competition of composing songs, poetries, and poster; and
6) Implementing other suitable and appropriate activities.
The NGOs expressed concern, stating that it had come about “by a simple administrative ruling without discussions on its appropriateness at Dewan Rakyat or without consulting parents.”
They also said the proposed action had not been adequately considered for its long term impact.
“We are looking at the seriousness of dragging school children’s in becoming part of the global grown up adult world of protests and subject young minds getting embroiled in this Middle East crisis.
“We caution that the six propositions (activities) can go wrong and be a cause for concern, with far-reaching repercussions.
“We have seen how a particular school in Malaysia, very recently, made its young students stomp on an Israeli flag, becoming viral on social media and causing alarm among citizens.
“Many netizens criticised this action and rightly held that the school is sowing hatred in these young, impressionable minds.
The NGOs urged the Ministry of Education and government to keep international politics (conflicts), religious disputes and war-cries out of schools and education institutions.
“Parents send their children to National type schools, not only for academic progress but also for mental and social balance, developing, learning and interacting with other pupils of other races and religious faiths. School is a place for the instilling of moral ethics and values that enrich a multiracial, multicultural and multi religious Malaysian society,” they said.
Members of NGOs and netizens have raised their concerns that the Government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is giving the impression of angling the Israel-Hamas war also as a religious perspective as well as taking political and territorial sides.
“We also remind the Government of Malaysia on the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 17th February 1995 and under Article 29, which states:
1. Parties agree that the education of the child shall be directed to:
(b) The development of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and for the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations;
(d) The preparation of the child for responsible life in a free society, in the spirit of understanding, peace, tolerance, equality of sexes, and friendship among all peoples, ethnic, national and religious groups and persons of indigenous origin.
They claimed the government has clearly taken sides and joined various quarters globally hinting anti-Semitism.
“Malaysia has a long track record, known globally, as a peace loving and peacekeeping nation.
“We should stand up for peace and demand for the halting of all civilian casualties and not spike the crisis further by siding one nation state while condemning another with racist undertones.
“We fear the misalignment of sentiments, condemnation, hatred and prejudices being championed by zealous teachers who are led to believe this is a religious war and that anti-semitism is therefore justified.
We cannot poison our young children’s minds.”
The 17 NGOs said the government also needs to consider Malaysian students studying abroad as their welfare and safety cannot be jeopardised as a result of the government’s stand on the war crisis.
“The government needs to bear in mind the many Malaysians travelling abroad who would be subjected to visa refusals, being scrutinised, or any sort of danger in life threatening situations.
Let us stop getting our children and the people of Malaysia baited to the problems that are growing larger by the days,” they said.
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