Was MCA leader barred from entering school over her criticism about Fadhlina?

AN MCA state leader believes she was barred from entering a Chinese primary school in Marang yesterday due to her recent public comments pertaining to the education minister.

Datuk Dr Monna Ong Siew Siew had apparently spoken out about the minister’s handling of issues such as school bullying and the politicisation of classrooms — including the directive for students to chant slogans like “I love the Prime Minister.”

The Terengganu MCA liaison committee chairperson said she had attended the Children’s Day celebration at the school annually for the past five years without any issue.

“This year, however, the school informed me, just one day prior, that the authorities had issued a directive denying my entry.

“The reason provided was that “outsiders must first apply for permission” to enter school grounds.

“Yet, in all previous visits, no such rule was raised or enforced,” she said.

Ong said her presence has always been with the school’s full knowledge and cooperation, conducted with dignity and respect, and focused solely on student welfare.

“It is important to emphasise that my criticisms were respectful, fact-based, and voiced in good conscience.

“As a Minister, she should be open to criticism and take it as an opportunity to improve,” she said.

As chairperson of the Datuk Sri Chia Siea Chok Education Aid Foundation, she said she attended the school in her capacity as the leader of a charitable foundation, not as a political figure.

“To conflate the two is misleading and unjust. More importantly, it penalises the very students who stand to benefit from the Foundation’s assistance.

“This troubling incident is not without precedent. In 2008, Hannah Yeoh — now Minister of Youth and Sports, was banned from attending an event at her alma mater, SMK Subang Utama, allegedly because of her political affiliation with the then-opposition, Pakatan Rakyat,” she said.

The decision drew condemnation from Pakatan leaders, who called it politically motivated and unfair.

In August 2022, as the MP for Segambut, Yeoh again urged the Education Ministry to end the practice of restricting opposition lawmakers from accessing schools.

She cited the Memorandum of Understanding on Political Transformation and Stability, signed in 2021, as the framework to end such discriminatory actions.

“Yet today, those who once championed openness and reform appear silent, or worse, complicit in replicating the very injustices they seemingly once fought against.

“What happened to the promises of UBAH? What became of Pakatan Harapan’s commitments to transparency, fairness, and depoliticisation of education?” she questioned.

Last month, former economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli also criticised Fadhlina for getting students to greet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for his birthday and state that they “love” him.

In a now viral video, Fadhlina was seen encouraging students to say “Happy Birthday PMX, We Love You” at a gathering.

Anwar turned 78 years old on Aug 10.

Ong stressed that education should never be weaponised.

“The MOE is urged to uphold the principles of fairness, stop politicising school access, and allow charitable foundations to continue serving students in need, without fear or prejudice.

“At the centre of this issue are the children. “Politics must never be allowed to get in the way of their right to gain the support and opportunities they need,” she added. – September 12, 2025