Explain ‘balanced perspective’ rule, opposition MP tells govt

 

The education ministry’s recently released guidelines for the Palestine Solidarity Week, banned the use of weapons and promotion of political parties.

PETALING JAYA: A Perikatan Nasional MP has urged the government to explain the guidelines for the Palestine Solidarity Week programme in schools especially on providing a balanced explanation on the conflict.

“Does this mean the school needs to display images representing Israel? Is this what they (the education ministry) mean?” Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden said at a press conference at the Parliament lobby.

The Alor Setar MP said the solidarity week was meant to show support for Palestine and “not both parties”.

“If you support both sides, it means there’s no clear stance from us.”

The newly elected PAS Youth chief said he hoped education minister Fadhlina Sidek would provide clarification on the matter tomorrow during the Ministers’ Question Time.

Afnan was referring to the guidelines shared by Fadhlina which stipulated that schools should refrain from showcasing a one-sided perspective of the conflict.

The guidelines were released in the wake of the controversy sparked by students and teachers carrying toy guns for a programme to show solidarity for Palestinians at a school in Klang.

The guidelines banned the use of weapons or replicas and anything that might lead to a confrontation.

Afnan also wanted the ministry to confirm a social media post by a teacher alleging that a school was prohibited from reciting the “takbir” and “Qunut Nazilah,” a prayer often recited during calamities.

He also questioned a recent post by local government development minister Nga Kor Ming that said schools were not places for “conflicts, extremist understandings, and violence.”

Afnan asked whether the Teluk Intan MP meant that students donning headbands and carrying toy guns were considered violent. He pointed out that another school held a Japanese-themed programme with samurai swords.

“If so, this contradicts the statement of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who firmly declared that the government does not consider Hamas to be a terrorist organisation.” - FMT