While PAS has been irked by the Education Ministry’s directive to continue school canteen operations during Ramadan, its coalition ally Gerakan does not share the same sentiments.
Speaking to Malaysiakini yesterday, Gerakan president Dominic Lau stressed that school canteens should stay open during the fasting month.
Lau explained that both PAS and Gerakan have different interpretations of the matter but stopped short of criticising the Islamist party.
“No one is wrong and not all views should be criticised.
“Let the school canteens operate. What is important is the value of respecting religious beliefs and practices among students,” he told Malaysiakini.
Lau added that Gerakan adheres to the principles of the Federal Constitution, which gives Malaysians the freedom of religion.
Previously, the PAS ulama wing accused Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek of triggering an “unnecessary” polemic by assuring that school canteens will remain open during Ramadan.
According to its leader Ahmad Yahaya, the ministry should instead focus on educating Muslim students about the importance of fasting and their non-Muslim counterparts to respect the practice.
However, Fadhlina stressed that the ministry did not want to see any students being forced to eat in “inappropriate” conditions at school throughout the holy month.
She also defended a ministry directive for school canteens to continue operating during Ramadan, stating that it had already been practised since last year.
‘They can eat in canteens but…’
Meanwhile, a Bersatu leader came to PAS’ defence.
Bersatu information chief Razali Idris, who spoke in his personal capacity, said he disagreed with the Education Ministry’s directive.
According to Razali, non-Muslim students should be able to manage themselves as the practice of fasting in the month of Ramadan is an obligation that is a routine for Muslims every year.
“There is no need to ask them to eat in the storeroom, they can eat at the canteen but the canteen is not open as usual,” he said.
Further, he said that his stance was not aimed at Mandarin and Tamil language vernacular schools, but at the national schools.
If there were cases of non-Muslim students ordered to eat in store rooms or inappropriate places, he said the ministry should take action.“Why do they eat in storerooms? Which school? Please state them.“They can eat at the canteens, it’s just that the canteens aren’t open. That’s all.” - Mkini
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