Johor Crown Prince: Schools a place to encourage unity

JOHOR BARU: Schools are a place to encourage unity amongst Johoreans and not to divide the society, says Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim.

He said the incident at SMK Dato’ Bentara Luar in Batu Pahat where there was racial segregation in the registration of co-curricular activities should have never happened.

“I have told the school principal and the state Education Department that this should never have happened and it must never happen again in any school in Johor.

“These actions are not in line with Bangsa Johor, which promotes unity of all races under one identity for all Johoreans.

“Such incidents must be avoided to maintain harmony and unity amongst the people, ” he said in a Facebook post on Monday (April 19).

Tunku Ismail also posted photos of him receiving in audience SMK Dato’ Bentara Luar principal Abdul Razak Hamid, Batu Pahat district officer Ismail Abu, acting state Education Department director Sahilon Abdul Halim and Batu Pahat education officer Dr Suhaimi Ismail.

The school was in the limelight for a bad reason last week after a notice which clearly stipulated that students should opt for co-curricular activities, including sports, based on their race and gender went viral on social media.

Abdul Razak subsequently issued an apology on the school’s Facebook page saying it was a mistake and was wholly unintentional and on Saturday (April 17), the decision was nixed following national uproar and the intervention of the Education Ministry.

Sekolah adalah tempat untuk memupuk semangat perpaduan antara rakyat Johor, bukan untuk memecahbelahkan masyarakat kita.... Posted by HRH Crown Prince of Johor on Monday, April 19, 2021