Voicing political views among teachers will cause rift - NUTP chief

Teachers who join political parties and openly voice their views may split the teaching community, claimed the National Union of the Teaching Profession president Kamarozaman Abd Razak.

This is especially so when the view of one particularly vocal teacher sparks a heated debate among the teachers, who are members or supporters from the opposite side of the divide, he told Malaysiakini.

"A fight following a debate may bring disharmony among the teachers when they get excited," he said.

"We advise our members to choose between their work or politics, if they want to be involved in politics, then let's quit or retire earlier," he said.

He, however, said that teachers still can join a party but should not be open or overly aggressive.

According to him, the teachers' right to political involvement lies every five years during the general election.

He added that a teacher has to stay apolitical as his or her view may confuse the students.

He was responding to Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid (photo) who had earlier reportedly urged teachers and education ministry officials who hold office in opposition to quit if they want to go against the government.

The Public Service General Orders has barred civil servants from participating in politics and, in particular, to hold any party positions in any political party, noted Kamarozaman.

"This has been in the government's circular and general order for quite a while, but the government wasn't implementing it," he said.

In the report, Mahdzir said it was acceptable for teachers and officials to join BN parties and even hold party positions.

Kamarozaman, however, noted that the general order made it compulsory for teachers to apply for permission from the ministry's secretary-general to hold office in any party.

In this case, he said, it would be easier for the teachers and BN parties members to obtain permission from the ministry.

"This is not a double standard," he said, adding that NUTP will not defend the right of the teacher who is asked to quit over his or her political involvement.

"It is not good to fight your parents that feed you," he said.- Mkini