Mary Yap: Parents of SMK Victoria students entitled to express opinions

PUTRAJAYA: Parents of SMK Victoria students allegedly affected by "political interference" are entitled to voice their opinions, said Datuk Mary Yap.

"What was published in The Star was an opinion being expressed, but as far as I am concerned I would place education above politics," the Deputy Education Minister said at a press conference at the Education Ministry on Wednesday.

Yap was commenting on a letter published in The Star on Feb 4 titled "Appalled over political interference" written by SMK Victoria Parent-Teachers Association president Datuk Dr Nik Zamri Majid.

The letter touched on the intervention of political secretaries or press secretaries or private secretaries of a minister when the school decided to expel students due to discipline problems.

According to the letter, SMK Victoria expelled five students for beating other students two months ago.

One parent decided to not have his child transferred and went to the Minister’s office to seek help on the school’s decision.

It is stated in the letter that a team of officers from the Ministry went to the school to question the decision of the school’s principal and the discipline teachers.

The letter also stated that the Ministry officers conducted the "investigations" like public prosecutors questioning criminals.