Ministry probes international school over kids’ anti-palm oil performance

PETALING JAYA: The Education Ministry has launched an investigation into the international school that staged a student performance about the negative impacts of palm oil for “spreading propaganda”.

Education director-general Datuk Dr Amin Senin (pic) said the Ministry viewed “anti-palm oil propaganda activities” seriously.

He said that the investigation into the private institution is in accordance with the Education Act 1966 (Act 550).

“The Ministry will not compromise with any propaganda and indoctrination in private institutions that tarnish the image and name of the country,” he said in a statement Wednesday (July 3).

He added that the students' involvement in the activity goes against the country's policy.

“The Ministry will also release a reminder to all international schools to ensure that this does not happen again,” he said.

On Tuesday (July 3), Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok hit out at an international school over a performance by its students, who look to be about eight to nine years old, purportedly linking palm oil plantations with the “disappearance” of the orangutan.

Describing the performance as “sowing hatred against palm oil plantations” among the students, Kok said the school had associated the industry with deforestation and logging.

“I urge the school to stop all actions that are sowing anti-palm oil sentiments among Malaysian students, just like what Europe is doing against our country.

“I also urge the school's headmaster and the teachers involved to come to my ministry and the Malaysian Palm Oil Council to understand all efforts to improve the industry and to conserve the environment by industry players,” she said.