Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has urged school administrators to control activities organised as part of a “solidarity week” in support of the Palestinian cause.
He said the government encourages schools to organise a Palestinian solidarity week but it is not compulsory and activities held must also be controlled.
This includes children’s use of toy guns or other mock weapons.
“On the Palestine Solidarity Week, we have discussed it in cabinet earlier (today). Firstly, we encourage the Palestine Solidarity Week.
“We are not forcing any schools... it must be controlled so it does not become a problem.
“That (bringing toy guns) must be controlled,” Anwar told reporters in Dengkil today.
The prime minister was commenting on images of schoolchildren carrying toy guns while donning headbands voicing support for Palestine, as well as the black and white “Palestinian scarf”.
Also commenting on the images, the Education Ministry said it will not compromise on any form of “extremism” throughout the Palestine Solidarity Week in schools.
“The use of weapon replicas, as well as icons and symbols with provocative or confrontational elements, are strictly prohibited,” said the Education Ministry in a statement today.
Earlier today, Global Human Rights Federation president S Shashi Kumar, shared several screenshots of the "shocking" images posted on social media by a teacher whom he claimed worked in a school in Klang.
He reiterated NGOs’ objections against organising such activities in schools, citing concerns about “extremist” ideologies taught to children.
In its statement, the Education Ministry noted that the programme was held outside of the proposed Palestine Solidarity Week and it has gone against the ministry’s guidelines.
“The ministry encourages activities that support humanitarian issues, including peace-themed video screenings, humanitarian-themed poetry competitions, humanitarian-themed poster design competitions and fundraising for Palestinians.”
The Education Ministry yesterday justified the programme planned from Oct 29 to Nov 3, saying it will teach students about humanitarian values and how to be colour-blind when it comes to empathy. - Mkini
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