Inaction over Orang Asli children incident reflects ineffectiveness — Gobind Singh Deo

The failure to explain what action has been taken against the teacher who allegedly slapped three Orang Asli children for not reciting prayers in SK Bihai reflects serious weaknesses on part of the government in dealing with problems of this nature.

It also proves the Najib administration ineffective in dealing with cases which are sensitive but warrant immediate and firm action.

This is a case with such simple facts. There should be no difficulty in ascertaining the facts. The law on the matter is also well settled. So there should be no difficulty identifying which laws apply either.

Dr Wee Ka Siong says action has been taken. He is, however, unable to elaborate further. We want to know what action? Was it any kind of action which would have the effect of ensuring that incidents like these don’t again repeat themselves in future? Further, Wee should also tell us what happened to the police report lodged? What is the status of the case?

As deputy minister who answered me in Parliament and who said action will be taken, he should know that this is a matter which has drawn great public interest. He must therefore also take an interest in the status of the case and not merely lump it into the ordinary stack of other daily problems he deals with. He should also make public what action, if any, has been taken to reflect seriousness on the part of his government in dealing with the problem. This is necessary also to send home a clear message to other would be offenders of this nature that serious consequences will follow if incidents like this occur again in future.

It is utterly disappointing to note how the all-powerful Ministry of Education, headed by the deputy prime minister himself, has had so little impact even in cases as simple as this.

If you can’t solve a problem as straight forward as this, and solve it quickly, you shouldn’t expect the rakyat to have confidence in your solving matters of greater national importance.

It is also regretful to note that the ministry has left this matter to the State Education Department. This is a very serious matter. Wee himself acknowledged this and it was the ministry which promised action in Parliament. It should therefore be them who must answer now. It would not be to their benefit, in the circumstances, to delegate the problem over to anyone else.

* Gobind Singh Deo is the MP for Puchong.