Maszlee: Guidelines on politicians entering schools apply to both sides of divide

Education Minister Maszlee Malik today said that the guidelines that politicians must obtain permission from the ministry before entering government school premises, apply to both sides of the political divide.

Reiterating that he had been "misquoted" as saying that the ruling only applies to opposition politicians, the minister clarified that the matter is clearly stipulated in existing circulars.

"I did not say there were rules, but (politicians) must ask for permission. 

"There are those who say I issued a ban, I just want to clarify I didn't say that.

"I just said that existing circulars state that there must be an application. It applies to all, whether to those in opposition or government.

"It's just that (for) the government (MPs), the school will apply on their behalf, but it (the application) applies to all," he told reporters after a forum in Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka tonight.

Maszlee also blamed the issue on the "stigma" attached to the previous administration.

"The stigma with the previous government, was when one applies, they don't get (approval). So a lot of people assume that if they apply, we won't give. (But) if they ask, we will give," he said.

Earlier today, Maszlee had denied prohibiting opposition MPs from entering the premises of government schools, saying he has been misquoted in news reports saying so.

He added that what he had actually stated in the Dewan Rakyat was that the oppositionelected representatives needed to follow the procedure in doing so.

According to reports, Maszlee had said in Parliament that opposition MPs who wished to enter government school premises should first obtain the permission of the ministry through the respective state education department directors.

"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 had said during his winding-up speech for Budget 2019 in the Dewan Rakyat.

When pressed by Noh Omar (BN-Tanjong Karang) on whether this policy only applies to opposition lawmakers or to all lawmakers, Maszlee replied: "It is used for all opposition parliamentarians."

His statement drew criticism from various quarters including Pakatan Harapan elected representatives, among them, its Youth chief, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad who urged that the Opposition elected reps be given due respect and not prevented from entering education institution premises. - Mkini