Najib claims Maszlee is politicising schools by having 1MDB in history syllabus

PETALING JAYA: There is a time and place for politics, and it is not in the schools, claims former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (pic) in responding to Dr Maszlee Malik's latest plan for education reform.

The Education Minister on Monday (Dec 3) announced that the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal and kleptocracy will be included as part of the History syllabus.

"I think it will not be long before Maszlee himself will enter the history books," the former prime minister said in response.

"Do not use our children, do not persecute their future," Najib added.

Maszlee made the announcement when answering a supplementary question by Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian) in Parliament Monday (Dec 3).

Ahmad had asked if local history is taught in private schools, such as the 60 Chinese independent schools.

Earlier, Dr Maszlee informed lawmakers that the Education Ministry is setting up a committee to review and improve History textbooks and methods of teaching the subject.

He said that secondary students are currently being taught a History curriculum which was introduced in 2017.

But in Oct 2017, it was widely reported that hundreds of pupils and teachers from SK Putrajaya Presint 14 (1) took part in a “class decoration and performance” competition with the theme “Umno and independence #Negaraku”.

Umno flags were draped all over the primary school and pupils also sang the party’s anthem.

Former secretary-general Umno Tengku Adnan, in his speech at the school, had urged teachers to join Umno. After the minister finished his speech, the pupils chanted “Hidup Umno!” (“Long live Umno!”).

Shortly after, National Human Rights Society chairperson Ambiga Sreenivasan said it was unacceptable for Tengku Adnan to take partisan politics to schools, calling it a "sign of desperation by Umno.”