PETALING JAYA: The Education Ministry has taken immediate action after a school in Batu Pahat, Johor, issued a notice for students to engage in co-curricular activities based on race, says Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin.
The Education Minister said on Facebook yesterday that he was shocked and upset when he was informed about the matter, and stressed that the directive was not in line with the goals for sports programmes in schools.
“We were dumbstruck when we looked at the guidelines. Why did they issue such a thing?
“Why can’t they just let our children play together regardless of who they are?” Radzi said.
He added that sports could become an effective medium for national unity, especially among students.
“In sports, all team players will do their best to win.
“Surely it will never cross their minds that ‘I am from a different race’. Never at all!
“This is the same with sports fans. When a Malaysian team or an athlete joins a competition, regardless of who they are, all Malaysians, regardless of race, will give their full support.
“Have we forgotten about our national football team that participated in the Olympic Games in 1972 and the 1980s?
“Do we still remember the success of our national hockey team that clinched the fourth spot in the Hockey World Cup in 1975?
“Didn’t we all stand up to cheer when our badminton team won the Thomas Cup in 1992?
“The huge success of our country at the international level was formed based on the spirit of unity of the whole team.
“The happiness was experienced by all Malaysians with tears of happiness, regardless of who the team members are, ” said Radzi.
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