Malaysiakini （http://www.malaysiakini.com）
Wouldn't it be nice to take religion out of schools?, 16 November 2011
'From Day 1, our children are divided into Agama and Moral groups leaving little chance of any real integration.'
Perkasa denies seeking ban on Christian teachers
Cina Bukit: The placards were displayed at a Perkasa-organised function. If it was an individual's choice, Ibrahim Ali as Perkasa chairman, should have stopped it.
Fact 1: He did not.
Fact 2: He did not condemn the act immediately.
That clearly showed he supports the call to ban Christian teachers from public schools.
Can the same be done by mission schools or vernacular schools - that Malay teachers be banned from these schools? Please use your common sense, if you have any. The call for this kind of ban is pure nonsense.
Anonymous_3hdchd: Wouldn't it be nice if we could simply take religion out of all schools? From Day 1 in sekolah kebangsaan primary schools, our children are divided into Agama and Moral groups, leaving little chance of any real integration.
The fact is that when an ustaz or priest (of any persuasion) is allowed to spread their ignorance and bigotry among impressionable minds, the results are clear for all to see. Tragic!
Anonymous_3hdchd: There are plenty of good Malay teachers around but the problem is with those who are blinded by their own faith. I don't care what nominal religion they possess so long as they don't stuff it down the throats of kids who are too young to know what it means.
My two older kids went to a SK (sekolah kebangsaan) school (supposedly the best in Kuala Lumpur and the the same one that Marina Mahathir transferred her kids out of because it was, and I quote, "too religious".)
They had a torrid time with some of the staff (and my kids are technically Muslim) because of the sheer stupidity of some of the things they were taught, i.e. the science teacher telling them that evolution was false, etc, not to mention the horror stories told by the ustaz.
Replace all the religious teachers with PE (physical education) teachers and you would see a massive improvement within five years. Who knows, Malaysia might even win something on the sports field.
Paul Warren: I did not want my kids to come under the influence of any of the teachers teaching in our sekolah kebangsaan. I decided to send them off elsewhere.
My older daughter had just finished her first term of Primary 2 when she left. By then, she already knew that she was non-Malay and non-Muslim, and therefore was different and treated differently. I don't agree with that and I don't accept it either.
Anonymous_3e06: The response of the deputy minister is not good enough. He must go after the newspaper to find out the truth and question the rally by Perkasa where this banner was carried.
David Dass: "Though understanding concerns of possible wrongdoings by teachers, he (Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong) explained that there are existing guidelines governing public servants like teachers to ensure that they do not engage in activities that may provoke sensitivities, giving his assurances that the rules will be used to punish those who are guilty of such offences".
This was part of the minister's statement. Why should the minister give credence to spurious allegations by making statements like this?
Malaysian Christians are as much citizens of this country as anyone else and the fact that they are Christians cannot be a disqualification for anything.
The likelihood of a Christian trying to convert a Muslim to Christianity is so remote as to be virtually non-existent.
Mission schools have almost lost their character as mission schools. The result is a loss for the nation. In Hindu India, they continue to be schools of preference. In Buddhist Thailand, a Catholic mission runs a university.
It is extraordinary the extent that some will go to pit one race against the other. Malaysia is a beautiful country and there is much we can achieve as a nation. But we have to come together as a people. Not move separately as different tribes that meet occasionally when it is inevitable or expedient.
We were okay once. But now we have to retrace our national footsteps and re-learn how to come together and enjoy our diversity. We have different beliefs and different cultures. But in the core essentials we are the same. We know right from wrong and we want to same things.
No one has the right to deny another that which he seeks for himself and his family. A good home, food on the table, good health service, good education, employment and a safe environment. And the freedom and the opportunity to develop our individual potential.
Why does Perkasa have a problem with that? Why should anyone have a problem with that? Of course, all this requires the government to be open and transparent.
Thinking: I am saddened that such words can be proclaimed by so-called ‘religious' people.
I still remember in school history lessons in the 70s, we learnt about the founders of the major religions of the world and I really learnt a lot.
It doesn't mean that those who learn about other religions will convert. If this is so, then the fault lies in the individual who has freedom of choice. Also, it's a reflection of the individual's faith, whether it is strong and mature.
Please treat people as adults and let them choose who to believe. That way, the person concerned will be a true believer, not a hypocrite.
Does God not look at the heart of individuals whereas man look only at outward appearances? Does God not desire and know who is his true believer? Does God desire hypocrites?
Haji Kamdani: I am ashamed to call myself a Malay if we have people like Ibrahim Ali constantly bringing disrepute to our race by stirring up unnecessary issues. Malays are known for their good virtues, but this MP seems to be spoiling all that.
Swipenter: Now you understand why vernacular schools are the first choice for non-Malay parents? Vernacular schools teach and don't preach and discriminate on the basis of race and religion.
Ferdtan: This confirms that the general election is near - Perkasa/Ibrahim Ali, and its invisible partner, Umno, are running scared.
Perkasa/Umno still needs the support of non-Muslims/non-Malays to win the elections. They cannot frighten the Chinese and the Indians away. A few months ago, Perkasa's mouth-frothing diatribes against non-Muslims/non-Malays appeared daily in mainstream media. Demonstrations were held quite frequently to spew hatred.
Surprising, lately its leader, Ibrahim Ali (is it under orders from Umno to tone down?), is issuing denials of its extremist right-wing actions.
From this statement, Perkasa is sweeter than Umno. Is Ibrahim Ali having an image makeover - just like PM Najib Razak trying to be 'cool'?
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