Allowing teachers in politics: the devil is in the details

From P Ramasamy

The government might not have the right reasons for allowing teachers to be involved in politics.

Important decisions made by the government are often done on the spur of the moment. More often than not, the decisions are based on narrow political calculations.

Of course, the intended consequences of government decisions might be beneficial to society as a whole.

The recent announcement to allow teachers, including those in Kemas kindergartens, to engage in politics is something to be welcomed.

Since politics affects all citizens in varying ways, there is a need for political participation to bring about favourable outcomes.

Teachers and community leaders, long before the emergence of the business, commercial and corporate elites, have played an important role in political parties.

Umno could not have risen to the present prominence without the pivotal role of school teachers and other grassroots leaders.

The same goes for other political parties in the country.

It was the rise of the business and corporate elites that eclipsed the role of teachers and community leaders in parties like Umno.

Umno, with its sights on the next general election, might be looking back to its traditional supporters.

The announcement to allow teachers and community leaders to engage in politics might have to do with the need to strengthen Umno at the grassroots level.

The party, over the years, given its association with big businesses, might have gone astray in neglecting its once hardcore supporters.

Having lost the 2018 general election to Pakatan Harapan, it was felt there was a need to strengthen Umno and Barisan Nasional.

What better way than to focus on the segment that has been neglected for some time?

Teachers and Kemas staff constitute a big segment of the population. They have direct links with the grassroots at the local levels, unlike the corporate elite.

The purpose of politics is to bring about favourable outcomes. Allowing people to participate in the political process is not necessarily a bad thing.

While the announcement might be guided by narrow political concerns, it is important nonetheless.

The devil is in the details.

Can teachers enrol as members of political parties, if they are not members already?

Can they take part in party elections and hold positions?

What about their participation in the national and state elections?

If teachers hold positions, either at the party level or government level, will these contradict with their traditional roles?

These and many other related questions need answers as to the role of teachers in politics.

The government, like in so many decisions, seems to have made the announcement without the necessary planning. - FMT

P Ramasamy is a deputy chief minister of Penang.

The views expressed are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.