Tombstone idea slammed

> Parent action group questions purpose of replica built in a school compound

KLANG: The Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) has questioned the decision by a secondary school here to build a replica of an Islamic tombstone in its compound for educational purposes.

Describing the move as “illogical”, its chairman, Datin Nor Azimah Abdul Rahim, questioned the need for SMK Sultan Abdul Samad in Bukit Kuda to construct the replica tombstone to teach Islamic studies.

“Why is there a necessity for it? For 60 years since independence, Islamic Studies has been taught and inculcated to Muslim students without any need for tombstones.

“It is an unnecessary and a provocative move by the school,” she said when contacted yesterday.

School authorities, however, have claimed that they had received the approval of the district education office prior to constructing the mock Islamic tombstone in the school compound. A spokesman from the school said that the mock tombstone, which was built during school holidays, was meant entirely for educational purposes, specifically for the Islamic Studies subject.

“The tombstone is only a replica, not a real grave.

“It was built during the school holidays.

“The headmistress had applied and received approval prior to its construction.

“It is for educational and observation purposes as it falls under the Pendidikan Islam module,” he told theSun yesterday.

The spokesman said the matter has since received the attention of the Education Ministry but declining to comment further.

The issue involving the tombstone came to light when it was raised by Hindraf chairman P. Waythamoorthy, who sent an open letter to Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid yesterday, demanding an explanation.

In the letter, Waythamoorthy called on the ministry to explain the reason behind its construction and demanded that the structure be removed from the school’s premises.