No News Is Bad News
Fadhlina: We are waiting for report on toy gun brandishing incident
MoE had since ordered a complete investigation be conducted into the incident and to file a detailed report based on the stipulated guidelines
Updated 28 minutes ago · Published on 28 Oct 2023 4:29PM
Fadhlina said the Palestine Solidarity Week was encouraged as it was important to instil positive values among students - The Vibes pic, October 28, 2023
BY The Vibes Team
PETALING JAYA - The Ministry of Education (MoE) is waiting for a report following a probe into a programme in a primary school yesterday with students brandishing toy guns resembling M-16s and dressing up as militants.
Its Minister, Fadhlina Sidek said MoE had since ordered a complete investigation be conducted into the incident and to file a detailed report based on the stipulated guidelines.
"Before we take any action, we need a complete report on the incident.
"The guidelines on the Palestine Solidarity Week are clear and we must engage with our respective state education departments on what can and cannot be done.
"We must also ensure all activities are carried out in a harmonious manner with emphasis on humanity and peace," she said.
Fadhlina, who is also the Nibong Tebal member of parliament, earlier officiated the Taman Angkat Amanita Taman Pekaka in her constituency.
Elaborating, she said the Palestine Solidarity Week was encouraged as it was important to instil positive values among students.
"However, we will not compromise on elements of extremism, violence and radicalism, while replicas of weapons are not allowed altogether.
"We have asked all quarters concerned to pay full attention to the guidelines issued," she said.
On the viral video of students brandishing toy guns resembling M-16s and dressing up as militants, she said the incident occurred outside the period of the Palestine Solidarity Week which was from Oct 29 - Nov 3. - The Vibes, October 28, 2023
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27, 2023: The Education Ministry has responded to the national backlash on its “extremist” Palestine solidarity programmes in schools.
But, it’s happening in its schools. So, what is the ministry doing about it?
No Action Talk Only (NATO)?
The ministry said it will not compromise with any activities with “extremist” elements, adding that the use of replica weapons, icons and symbols in a provocative and confrontational manner is “strictly prohibited”.
Really? Where’s the action against those who promoted the use of firearms and weapons to promote violence, since the ministry claimed there were guidelines?
No News Is Bad News reproduces below the NATO news report:
Education ministry slams viral ‘extremist’ Palestine solidarity programmes
The ministry says the use of replica weapons, icons and symbols in a provocative and confrontational manner is strictly prohibited.
FMT Reporters - 27 Oct 2023, 7:53pm
Pictures and videos of Palestine solidarity school programmes in several schools went viral earlier amid reports of students and teachers carrying toy guns at the events.
PETALING JAYA: The education ministry has slammed several Palestine solidarity school programmes that have gone viral on social media following reports of students and teachers carrying toy guns at the events.
The ministry said it will not compromise with any activities with “extremist” elements, adding that the use of replica weapons, icons and symbols in a provocative and confrontational manner is “strictly prohibited”.
“This programme falls outside the period set for the Palestinian Solidarity Week and does not adhere to the guidelines set by the ministry,” it said in a statement.
The ministry said, instead, it encourages activities such as video screenings, poetry, poster paintings and donation collections for the Palestinian people.
“All institutions under the purview of the ministry must adhere to the established guidelines,” it added.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called for better control of the Palestine solidarity programmes in schools following reports of students and teachers carrying toy guns at several events.
He said the matter was discussed in a Cabinet meeting and that while schools were encouraged to show solidarity with the Palestinians, such programmes were not mandatory.
A 55-second video that went viral yesterday on social media showed an event held in a school involving what appeared to be a man wearing a bulletproof vest, a balaclava mask, and pointing a toy rifle at students while leading a group of teachers into an assembly.
One of the teachers was seen holding a placard while others waved the Palestinian flag or wore Palestine-themed scarves across their faces and shoulders. Some also held toy rifles.
Several social media screenshots of an event at a school in Klang, which has also gone viral, showed children wearing green bandanas with the words “Save Palestine” across their forehead while carrying toy guns.
Yesterday, the ministry pressed on with its directive to all schools and colleges to organise a “Palestinian Solidarity Week” despite criticism from many quarters, saying it was in line with the government’s civic education syllabus.
The Palestinian Solidarity Week, set to run from Oct 29 to Nov 3, will involve all educational institutions under the purview of the ministry, including schools, vocational and matriculation colleges, as well as teacher training colleges across the country.
TO ‘MASTER OF ENGLISH’ ANWAR, USING MALAY LANGUAGE MORE IMPORTANT THAN ECONOMIC SUCCESS – BUT NOT FOR SARAWAK PREMIER ABANG JO! ‘THAT DOES NOT APPLY HERE’ – STATE SECRETARY SAYS ENGLISH TO STAY OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
Business, Politics | October 27, 2023 9:41 am by | 0 Comments
PUTRAJAYA, 28 Jun -- Menteri Ekonomi Rafizi Ramli ketika sidang media mengenai Indeks Harga Pengguna Bagi Bulan Mei 2023 di kementreriannya hari ini.--fotoBERNAMA (2023) HAK CIPTA TERPELIHARA
Written by Stan Lee, Politics Now!
KUALA LUMPUR (Politics Now!) – Sarawak’s cool response that it had no intention of following Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s heated ‘Return to Sender’ order has sparked online sniggers and won the East Malaysian state more admiration for its no-nonsense and non-racial approach.
However, it is also likely to pit Sarawak Premier Abang Jo’s administration against Anwar’s ‘Madani’ federal government.
“That does not apply in Sarawak,” State Secretary Abu Bakar Marzukiwas quoted as saying by The Borneo Post.
NOT THE FIRST TIME ABANG JO GOES HEAD TO HEAD WITH PUTRAJAYA
On Wednesday, Anwar warned his directive to use and promote the national language – Malay – should not be taken lightly.
The prime minister also stated that anyone who wrote in a language other than the national language to government departments “will have their letter returned.”
““We agree with the use of English as the international trade language, but there is an attitude that I feel has gone too far and has deviated among some government departments, universities and private universities, including the private sector, which attempts to abandon the basis of the Constitution with regard to communicating with the government in the national language,” The Star had quoted Anwar as saying.
Indeed, this is not the first time Sarawak has held opposing views with the federal government when it comes to language-related policies.
In June last year, Abang Jo said the state civil service would continue using English as the official language, with Malay as the national language.
Abang Jo’s comments were in response to Chief Secretary to the federal government Zuki Ali’s statement that he wanted the public services department to look into actions that could be taken against those who did not take instructions to strengthen the national language seriously.
USING MALAY LANGUAGE MORE IMPORTANT THAN ECONOMIC SUCCESS?
BOMBSHELL – FROM SCHOOLKIDS TOTING MACHINE GUNS TO THREATS FROM EUROPEAN MPs – BID BY MALAYSIAN POLITICIANS TO ‘HIJACK’ HAMAS-ISRAEL WAR TO BOOST SAGGING POPULARITY AT HOME BACKFIRES – NOW ONE NEEDS TO SACK HIMSELF AS FINANCE MINISTER, THE OTHER NEEDS TO BE SACKED AS EDUCATION MINISTER
Written by Stan Lee, Politics Now!
KUALA LUMPUR (Politics Now!) – It’s time for Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, whose appointment was shaky from day one, to call it a day. Her boss, the embattled Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim who also doubles as Finance Minister is already free-falling along with Ringgit.
Brickbats from both bigwigs and the man in the street are being hurled at the duo, who hail from the ruling PKR party, for trying to ‘hijack’ the Israel-Hamas war to save their political skins. Even allies are rushing to distance themselves from the fiasco.
“Teach compassion, appreciation of diversity, not war,” said MCA Central Committee Member Saw Yee Fung in a statement to the media.
“anwaribrahim @FadhlinaSiddiq Are you happy now? Children and teachers bearing arms? What kind of sick minds do you all have eh?” asked activist lawyer Siti Kasim on X.
“Seriously what is this????” thundered another activist lawyer Ambiga Sreenevasan.
BRAINWAVE OR HALF-BAKED IDEA?
They were responding to the directive by Ministry of Education to all schools to organise a week-long ‘Palestine Solidarity Week’. Despite the obvious public unease at dragging schoolchildren into the Middle East crisis, where the politics of violence and protests are more often than not at the forefront, Fadhlina had persisted while Anwar looked the other way.
Today, the plan backfired after a video showing educators brandishing toy machine guns at schoolchildren triggered a public uproar. A man wearing a bulletproof vest, a balaclava mask, and pointing a toy gun at the students led a group of teachers into an assembly. They were mimicking gunmen in battle as part of a performance to show solidarity with the Palestinians.
One of the teachers was seen holding a placard while others waved the Palestinian flag or wore Palestine-themed scarves across their faces and shoulders. Some also held toy rifles.
“Parents send their children to schools, not only for academic progress but also hope for mental and social balance, developing, learning and interacting with other pupils of other races and religious faiths,” 17 NGOs from Sabah and Sarawak scolded in a joint statement.
“Teaching innocent school children about gun-toting and that violence against another is the answer are simply a no-no. We appeal to MoE to please withdraw the directive,” said MCA.
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