Sabah PKR: Khat should be optional, rather than mandatory

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah PKR thinks that the Education Ministry should just make khat an optional subject, instead of forcing students to learn it.

Its chief, Datuk Christina Liew, said there were already so many subjects for pupils to learn that it was unnecessary to force students to learn another subject like calligraphy.

“If the pupils and parents themselves want and agree to learn khat, then they should be allowed to, but for those who do not want to or are not interested, then don’t force them, ” she said during a press conference at the state legislative assembly building here on Monday (Aug 5).

She said khat, like the Chinese calligraphy, would be something fun and interesting to learn, if the person enjoyed it.

Her comments follow Education Minister Maszlee Malik's announcement that khat calligraphy would be implemented for Year Four pupils, starting next year.

Liew said the Federal Government should return the education autonomy to Sabah and to consult the state on policies every time something new to be implemented or before a decision that affected Sabah was made.

On another matter, the state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister said Sabah would try to get 50% of the departure levy to be imposed starting September this year.

“We want to get back at least 50% of the departure levy collected, if not more, to help in Sabah’s development initiatives, ” she said.

Liew said this in response to Karanaan assemblyman Datuk Masidi Manjun’s (Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia) suggestion during the state assembly question-and-answer session that Sabah should take at least 50% of the levy collected.

She said the former Tourism, Culture and Environment minister’s suggestion was good and made sense for the betterment of the state’s economy.

“I will discuss this with our Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, and hope he brings it up to the federal government, ” she said.