PARLIAMENT | Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has made an emotional plea to MPs for schools to be given room to conduct Palestine Solidarity Week activities, with an emphasis on teaching children the values of peace and humanity.
A visibly distraught Fadhlina also chided critics of the programme, launched in response to the Palestine-Israel conflict, stressing the programme was about exposing children to themes of universal peace.
"Give us room to carry out our responsibility [...] Do not disturb us, don’t mess with our schools, don’t mess with our teachers!
"On that side, on this side, same! Do not disturb! Give room to this education process. Understand that it is important to educate (students) on humanity," said Fahdlina in the final minutes of her Supply Bill 2024 winding-up speech.
She said this in response to Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman’s (Perikatan Nasional-Sik) request for clarification on her statement earlier this morning, that "certain parties" had interfered with the Palestine Solidarity Week activities and triggered a misconception on its actual intention.
Fadhlina, who this morning attended a Palestine Solidarity Week programme, told reporters at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Dato' Ahmad Razali that the education community is clear on a ministry guideline on do's and don'ts for the activities.
"It became a polemic because it was politicised, turned into a polemic and 'disturbed' by outsiders," she said.
She also reiterated there was no issue among school administrators and teachers regarding the ministry's "do's and don'ts" for the programme, including "not to just present the perspective of one side".
Further, Fadhlina told the Dewan Rakyat she has taken into consideration the views and criticisms from all parties.
‘Let schools decide’
"So I hope, please don't make noise, don't be worried if schools don't allow the takbir or qunut nazilah (special prayer in times of extreme hardship).
"There are reasons why activities are carried out in a manner appropriate to the particular school," she said.
Initial images showing school children posing with toy guns and dressed as Palestinian freedom fighters prompted concerns, including from government MPs, on activities held as part of the Palestine Solidarity Week which started on Monday until tomorrow.
PN lawmakers, in response, had argued how students had brought in other forms of toy weapons to school for unrelated activities, including a cosplay contest. - Mkini
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