If what transpired at a primary school in Putrajaya this morning had occurred between 1957 and 2009, the minister responsible would have been sacked, according to Lim Kit Siang.
The DAP veteran claimed that the previous five prime ministers would not have tolerated such a brazen act.
However, in the case of Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Lim claimed that he would probably be hailed by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for having made a “major breakthrough in these parlous times for Umno and BN.”
The opposition leader also argued that the school incident is another example which emphasised the need for the BN government to be replaced.
“A government which has lost the ability to differentiate between right and wrong has forfeited the right to be the government of Malaysia – and this is why the Umno/BN coalition must be replaced by the Pakatan Harapan coalition before Malaysians suffer more shame, indignity, infamy and ignominy.
“What happened at SK Putrajaya Presint 14(1) today is the latest proof that the Umno/BN government has become a morally bankrupt coalition, which has lost the ability to differentiate between right and wrong or good and bad,” he said in a media statement today.
This morning, hundreds of pupils and teachers of the primary school had participated a “class decoration and performance” competition with the theme "Umno and independence #Negaraku".
Umno flags were draped all over the primary school's compound. The pupils also brandished Umno flags and crooned the party's anthem.
During his speech, Tengku Adnan, who was the guest of honour at the event, urged teachers to join Umno. After the minister finished his speech, the pupils chanted "Hidup Umno!" (Long live Umno!).
Lim, who said the event witnessed an “important line being crossed,” also highlighted two episodes.
“Firstly, the event glorified and extolled Umno's contribution to nation-building. What about MCA, Gerakan, MIC, and the Sabah and Sarawak BN component parties and their leaders, or they didn’t exist or simply didn't matter in the real political scheme of things in Putrajaya?
“Secondly, Umno never had to beg for Malays to join Umno, and Tengku Adnan's open begging to teachers at a school function to join Umno must the first event of its kind in the history of Umno,” he added.
Meanwhile, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia Youth education exco Ashraf Mustaqim Badrul Munir said that there is nothing wrong with organising a function to reflect on the struggle for Malaysia's independence led by Umno.
However, he expressed regret that school pupils are being exploited and indoctrinated.
"These children are being used as political tools to be indoctrinated with Umno's past struggles.
"All of us are grateful to Umno for its contributions towards securing the country's independence. But what happened today is a political manipulation of the education system,” he added.
Ashraff Mustaqim also pointed to the double standard where teachers in the past were reprimanded for expressing support for the opposition.
"Teachers can only support Umno but not Harapan.
"This was despite a 2010 government circular which stated that civil servants are allowed to be active in politics," he said.- Mkini
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