Opposition MPs must get permission to enter gov't schools - Maszlee

PARLIAMENT | Education Minister Maszlee Malik said opposition lawmakers who want to enter government schools must apply for permission from the ministry through the state education department director.

"I have answered this issue many times and the circular also states that any application to enter schools have to get permission from the Education Ministry through the state's director," he said during his winding-up speech for Budget 2019 in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Noh Omar (BN-Tanjong Karang) then questioned whether this policy only applies to opposition lawmakers or to all lawmakers.

"It is used for all opposition parliamentarians," Maszlee said.

When Noh pressed for further confirmation, the minister merely said he would answer in a written reply.

This comes after Sabri Azit (PAS-Jerai) claimed while debating the budget speech in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday that he was barred from entering government schools despite being an elected representative.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Hanipa Maidin had yesterday said he wanted this claim to be looked into as he does not want the opposition to be treated as how he was treated when Pakatan Harapan was the opposition. 

"It is very unfortunate if the claim is true and should not happen in the era of the Harapan government. It was a frequent occurrence for opposition MPs during the BN regime.

"It is not right and goes against the principle of equality before the law under Article 8 of the Federal Constitution," he had said. - Mkini