Storm in a cup over segregation

School’s policy earns flak from the public

PETALING JAYA: A school in Hulu Langat has been forcing its non-Muslim and Muslim pupils to drink from separate cups, earning flak from many concerned Malaysians.

A news portal reported that the primary school in Selangor has cups labelled “murid Islam” and “murid bukan Islam” placed next to a water dispenser.

According to the report, a school canteen operator said the separate cups have been used since last year, under the previous school principal who has since been transferred.

The school apparently has 219 Malay pupils and 145 non-Malay pupils.

In response to an outcry over the issue which has gone viral, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Chong Sin Woon stressed that “national schools are for all Malaysians and should not separate our children based on religion.”

He also said that he will direct the Selangor Education Department to check on the matter.

Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (PAGE) founder Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said the school should reverse the ruling.

“If there are certain quarters who have an issue with it (drinking from cups used by others), they can ask their children to bring their own cups and drinks.

However, Noor Azimah felt that imposing one’s religious values on others is not the way forward, especially for children.

Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) vice-president Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa said he could not understand the reasoning behind the segregation.

“This is crazy. Even from the Islamic point of view, you are not supposed to ask more than what you see, there is a verse in the Quran for this,” said the Parit Buntar MP.

The MCA Religious Harmony Bureau has called on the Education Ministry to immediately order the school to halt the practice.

Its chairman Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker said the current head or administrator of SK Taman Puteri must apologise to all students and parents for the “discriminatory” practice.

“Schoolchildren do not know racism. Such prejudices are inculcated by adults during a child’s formative years. If necessary, suspend the former principal from all duties that involve interaction with the public,” he said.