Only sweet-nothings but ZERO ACTION from PM 'for ALL Malaysians' - Gobind

The Prime Minister yesterday said "I do not want to be a Prime Minister for only a section of the community but for all Malaysians and I have said this repeatedly".

There must be a reason why the Prime Minister has had to repeat this so many times. But as the saying goes, 'actions speak louder than words'.

The Prime Minister should begin by telling us what action has been taken in the case in which orang asli students were alleged to have been slapped by a teacher in SK Bihai, Kelantan.

It is alleged that the students were slapped for refusing to recite the 'doa' despite none of them being Muslims.

This is a very serious allegation. It goes to the very root of our multicultural society.

A grave lack of action

Parents, students and all Malaysians for that matter, have a right to be assured that no religion will be forced upon them or their children. This is more so in school. This may be basic but what we need is action, and firm action to be taken in cases like these to show that we are serious about upholding this most basic and fundamental right.

The deputy Minister of Education Dr Wee Ka Siong agreed with me in Parliament that this is a serious matter and promised action.

It is the lack of action in cases like these which lead to mass sections of society loosing faith in promises made by the PM that he is a PM for all Malaysians.

I call upon the PM to tell us what action has been taken in this case and why has there been a delay?. The PM should also seek an explanation from the Attorney General as to why it is no action has been taken agianst the teacher concerned despite this being a relatively straight forward case which would have ordinarily warranted a criminal prosecution.

This is an opportunity for the PM to show us that he is not just a PM for all Malaysians but one who is prepared to stand up for all Malaysians too.

GOBIND SINGH DEO IS THE DAP MP for PUCHONG