WHAT IS MALAYSIA COMING TO? Move to bring forward Deepavali hols from Nov to JULY panned

PETALING JAYA - MCA has called on the Terengganu Education Department to be sensitive with religious holidays and follow strictly to those gazetted by the Federal government.

Referring to the department's directive to bring forward Nov 11 and 12 (Deepavali holidays) to July 22 and 23 (to extend the Hari Raya break from June 17), vice-president Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun (pic) said the move was "insensitive to all Malaysian citizens irrespective of race and religion."

"This is inconsiderate as Hindu students and teachers, who as fellow Malaysians, will also want to celebrate Deepavali with their families and friends, more so, if they have to travel outstation for family reunions," Chew said in a statement.

A letter from the department's director, Shafruddin Ali Hussin, on June 15 stated that schools in the state has the option of bringing forward the Deepavali holidays in order to extend the Raya holidays.

Shafruddin said the Deepavali dates would then be considered normal school days.

Chew said festivities create opportunities for integration and Shafruddin must recognise that he is Education Director of all students irrespective of religion.

"Moreover, public holidays are gazetted by the government.

"The little Napoleans in the civil service should not be allowed to simply change the dates of public holidays which have already been scheduled by Putrajaya.

"An alternative and appropriate practice would be for the director to inform that schools which prefer to have another day of public holiday to write-in and appeal.

"This extra school holiday could be replaced with another school day on a Saturday. The basic principle of respecting each other, of being in oneness with the other is absent," Chew said.

Chew noted that there have been several controversies of late involving the compelling of values of one’s onto another due to the lack of understanding between the various ethnic groups and faiths.

Among them involved the SEA Games gold medallist who was slammed for wearing a "showing the vagina" leotard during competition, the four women who were forced to cover up their legs to be allowed to enter a government premises and the teacher for told non-Malay pupils to drink their urine.

"We hope the overzealous bureaucrats will halt enforcing their values unto religious minorities in Malaysia and be sensitive and cognisant on the centuries’ religious practices of non-Muslims in our country," Chew said. - ANN