An NGO has slammed the "horrifying and shocking" pictures of young children carrying toy guns, allegedly linked to the Education Ministry's "Palestine Solidarity Week" in schools.
As such, Global Human Rights Federation president S Shashi Kumar urged Putrajaya to immediately put a stop to the programme.
He also shared several screenshots of social media posts made by a teacher whom he claimed worked in a school in Klang.
The photos featured schoolchildren carrying toy guns and machine guns - while donning headbands voicing support for Palestine, as well as the black and white “Palestinian scarf”.
"This is exactly what we (NGOs) were worried about. This is wrong, and we object (to it) very strongly. Teachers are not trained (to conduct such programmes).
"The programmes should be a solidarity event, premised on humanity, as wars are happening everywhere, and not be so Palestine-centric," Shashi Kumar told Malaysiakini.
He also called on Putrajaya to focus on issues affecting Malaysia - such as the free-falling ringgit, the lukewarm economy and the skyrocketing cost of living.
"Don't misunderstand me, helping Palestinians is not wrong but there are better things for the government to do now.
"(Also), what are we teaching the children (with such programmes)? Turn them into extremists? The Education Ministry should immediately stop this nonsense," he added.
The rakyat, he said, are becoming increasingly tired of the government’s indifference over pressing issues and failure to heed criticism will turn the administration into a “failed government”.
Meanwhile, another video of a similar programme is going viral on social media. It shows a procession of adults, possibly teachers, donning garb showing solidarity with Palestine - with some carrying toy guns - marching in a school hall while students look on.
The march is led by a man dressed in all black, including a balaclava, with a Palestine flag on his back, while he holds a toy machine gun.
It is unclear which school this particular programme took place but netizens on platform X, formerly known as Twitter, have expressed concern over the video.
Unpopular move
Earlier this week, NGOs objected to the ministry's proposal to hold the Palestine Solidarity Week in schools from Oct 29 to Nov 3, urging the government to keep international conflicts, religious disputes and war cries out of schools and educational institutions.
Several lawmakers have also raised objections to Putrajaya's decision to support the cause, saying schools should be neutral spaces for learning, growth and understanding.
The Education Ministry yesterday justified the programme, saying it will teach students about humanitarian values, and how to be colour-blind when it comes to empathy.
Sarawak Pakatan Harapan chairperson Chong Chieng Jen confirmed that it would not be compulsory to observe the solidarity week at schools in the state. - Mkini
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