Keep extremism out of schools

KOTA KINABALU: Support the decision of the Ministry of Education to keep school cafeterias open during Ramadan, said Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) Tanjung Aru Division chief Hiew Choon Yu.

“Our country is a multiethnic and multireligious nation, where the culture, religion, and traditions of each ethnicity should be upheld. Even in government schools, not just in Chinese or Tamil schools, there are many non-Muslim students,” Hiew said.

Whenever the month of Ramadan approaches, the issue of whether the school cafeteria should remain open becomes a recurring topic. Every so often, opportunistic politicians question the decision to keep the cafeteria open, citing a lack of respect for Ramadan.

He said setting aside religious and ethnic factors, Malaysia, composed of three major ethnic groups and various indigenous peoples, we should strive to establish an environment and ecosystem conducive to mutual recognition, understanding, and respect, embodying the principal of mutual understanding and respect.

Sabah has many non-Muslims; nearly half of the population are non-Muslims. We have an obligation to defend their right to eat. There is no reason why we should stand idly, as they eat in inappropriate places like storerooms.

Hiew highlighted that students who are required to fast can engage in other activities under the supervision of teachers, while non-Muslim children can have their meals in the cafeteria as usual. Such arrangements should not pose any conflicts.

He emphasized that if we confine the children to the mindset of “everyone must comply and refrain from eating during Ramadan,” will they also be compelled in the future, when they enter society, to force nonMuslim colleagues or partners to hide away during Ramadan for meals?

Education laws defend the existence of multi-stream schools. Hiew criticizes the members of the PAS, not only raising issues regarding Ramadan to challenge the Minister of Education but also taking the opportunity to make aggressive remarks on multi-stream schools.

Hiew added the Education Act 1996 has clarified and recognized the status of multi-stream schools in our country, serving as a measure to sustain the native language. The curriculum used in each school is the same, all based on the curriculum set by the Ministry of Education. What’s more, a recent court ruling has also allowed multi-stream schools.