Lawyer: Take religion out of schools, leave it to the rulers

Human rights lawyer Siti Kasim has urged the government to leave religious affairs to the rulers and keep religion out of national schools.

Speaking at a forum titled "Whither Maruah Malaysia 2.0" in Kuala Lumpur today, Siti said such a policy would help address racial and religious problems in the country while preventing "brainwashing" in schools.

"Malaysia seemed to be getting more and more racist and exclusivist in its religious policies by the day," she said, adding problem arises as race and religion was used as political weapon to the fullest.

"(They) use the emotions of the Malays to hate others... We are by any measure today one of, if not the, most racist and religiously bigoted nation on earth."

As examples, Siti said Malaysia reserves a large chunk of university placements and civil service for one ethnic group.

"What is the solution? We must actually force our government to change the education system, change our national schools

"If you do not improve the standard of national schools, I think not even the Malay want to send their kids to the national schools within the next 10 years."

However, Siti believed that the government of the day does not have the fortitude to transform the education system because politicians are looking out for their own interests.

"The richest and poorest people in Malaysia are the Malay. They (the politicians) don't want to change the narrative of the Malay because they want to continue robbing the poor Malays.

"They want to keep the Malay stupid by not changing the education system. They are saying you are not suppose to question as it is against the god to do so.

"I would also suggest the government to seperate religion and state, leave religion to the Sultan bcos that is under their purview, not under the federal government," she said.

[More to follow] - Mkini