Maszlee urges NGOs to be rational and not emotional over khat issue

Education Minister Maszlee Malik has urged all groups to return to rationality, common sense and stop being emotional when discussing their children's education.

At a press conference in George Town today, Maszlee said Malaysians should refrain from being emotional when dealing with certain issues.

"They should not jeopardise the future of their children just because of some emotional issue.

"Education is an investment for the future and education is for all. For me, it is the responsibility of everyone.

"Definitely, when it comes to our children we are accountable to them before the community as we have contributed to the education of our children," he said, after attending the "Teacher Innovation Towards Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century - In the Industry 4.0 Revolution Era" event at the Penang's Teachers' Institute.

Maszlee was asked on whether he agreed with Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman who had deemed groups threatening to get children in vernacular schools to skip classes in protest against Jawi lessons as “bodoh sombong" (foolishly arrogant).

“Willing to stop children from receiving education just because you are afraid of three pages (of lessons) on Jawi, which are not included in exams and is already optional.

“You cannot get more bodoh sombong than this,” Syed Saddiq had tweeted.

Syed Saddiq was referring to the Seni Khat Action Team (Sekat) which said that unless Putrajaya accedes to their demand for a dialogue on Jawi lessons, they would convince parents to stop sending their children to school.

Maszlee did not answer when asked if he has any advice for Syed Saddiq as some quarters felt his remark was out of line.

Instead, Maszlee advised all groups and NGOs to stop being emotional when it comes to such issues involving their children's education.

"School is the safest place to be. If we prevent them from going to school, what do we expect of them?

"When parents go to work, the children are out on the streets playing, and they will be vulnerable to all kinds of social ills.

"We encourage all parents to ensure their children are at school. That is why we have the zero reject policy so that all children can be at school, the safest place," he said. - Mkini