93% of netizens disagree with school’s separate cup move

KUALA LUMPUR: In a survey conducted by The Star, 93% of the 1,100 voters disagreed with the policy of a primary school to have separate drinking cups.

The school, located in Hulu Langat, Selangor, has cups labelled “murid Islam” (Muslim pupil) and “murid bukan Islam” (non-Muslim pupil) placed next to a water dispenser.

Many netizens took the opportunity to voice their outrage over the matter on The Star Online’s Facebook page.

One Facebook user, Rohaiza Basir, called the school’s policy despicable.

“Sickening. What’s next? Blood banks that separate donor’s blood according to type and religion?”

Another netizen, Khairunnisa Mohd Salleh, described the school’s action as racist, pointing out that it is a known fact that pupils are not allowed to bring non-halal food to public schools.

Marshall Alfred commented: “When I was in school back in 1969, we never had this kind of nonsense. What happened to this country?”

Greg Bajien slammed the school, saying that this would only further polarise the country’s society.

“What kind of message does it send to the younger generation? The principal is not worthy to run a school.”

Another netizen, Muhammad Nazrin, stressed that racial overtones would only set a dangerous precedent.

“Malaysia has no place for racists. As we celebrate our National Day in August, we must not allow issues of pre-independence days to dominate national discourse.

“The country was founded and built by founding fathers who were all moderate forces. Malaysia belongs to all of us. Let’s keep it that way,” he said.