Appalled over political interference

I HAVE been the president of the Parent Teachers Association for SMK Victoria for two terms and in the two terms I am appalled at the way the political secretaries or press secretaries or private secretaries of a minister interferred with the school administration by intervening in the school decisions to expel students for indiscipline.

SMK Victoria has been a subject of gangsterism and the police have been called in on many occasions, including the beating of a minister’s son in 2012.

When the school expelled students, they went straight to the office of the minister. Last year, the school was “instructed” to take back five students.

Do they not think of the victims? Do they not think of the more than 900 other students who do not want gangsterism in the school?

Do they not think of the effect on the teachers, who do not want them in school? Do they know how many students moved school because of this action? Do they not think of the morale of the teachers and parents?

Two months ago, the school sacked five students for beating other students.

The parents met the school authorities and agreed to transfer their children to other schools While three of them moved school, one datuk decided not to.

He went to the minister’s office and got everyone involved.

He even claimed that the PIBG, the Board of Governors and Old Boys Association supported them.

Then, last week an entourage of officers from the ministry and department came, questioning the discipline teachers and principal. We, the PIBG, BoG and VIOBA and Foundation went out in full force to confront the officers giving every reason why we do not want these five students back in VI.

The way they conducted the “investigations” was just like the public prosecutors questioning criminals.

They did not care that one of the victims was the son of a director at the Education Ministry.

The discipline teachers are very upset. What about the parents of the 900 other students?

I would like to remind the secretaries, please think of the majority, not the minority.

Ask the minister whose son was beaten up what he thought of the matter then.

DATUK DR NIK ZAMRI MAJID

Kuala Lumpur