'Keturunan Melayu' issue on report cards resolved

By Joseph Tawie

KUCHING: The issue of Dayak children being classified as 'Keturunan Melayu' in their school report cards has been resolved.

Sarawak Teachers Union president William Ghani Bina said the Education Ministry director-general Abdul Ghafar Mahmud had assured him that “it will never happen again”.

“He assured me the problem will be resolved and he will make sure that it will never happen again.

“The director-general said he will issue instructions to the state education department to make sure it does not recur in the future,” Ghani told FMT when contacted today.

According to him, the problem occurred because of the examination analysis by the examination section of the ministry.

“We should not put the blame on the teachers. They follow the directive from the ministry.

"But it will never happen again. This is the assurance given to me,” Ghani added.

Ghani flew into Kuala Lumpur yesterday to discuss the issue after he had received complaints from parents that their children at Temenggong Datuk Muip School had their racial status changed to Keturunan Melayu in the school report card.

One parent even said that he was told by the school that his child's status could not be changed back as it was already set in the system. The issue had caused an uproar in Sarawak.

Deputy minister under fire

Yesterday deputy education minister Wee Ka Siong added salt to wound when he dismissed the issue as 'not the fault' of his ministry.

"It could not have happened under our education system, because the ministry follows the child's birth certificate.

“Any correction to this (a child's racial origin) must be done with the NRD (National Registration Department).

"This has nothing to do with the ministry. We have no right to say if you're Malay or Chinese. We've no right,” Wee had said.

Wee's callous retort however has angered readers and Sarawakians here.

An e-mail response to the Wednesday's FMT report on the issue slammed Wee for his response.

"The moment you deny any responsibility in the misidentification of a child's race, it creates more problem for us who are affected. It's easy to say 'I'm Not Responsible' ... It's a pathetic attitude for a minister!," said the writer.

Meanwhile, Sarawak PKR chairman Baru Bian has also chided Wee for pushing the problem aside.

“I am utterly disappointed with the deputy minister for saying that his ministry is not responsible for this.

“He should at least investigate first. Did he investigate? It could be Little Napoleons within his ministry who are responsible for doing this,” added Bian, who also received complaints from the parents. - FMT