Gaza conflict: Keep our schools neutral, says Henrynus

KOTA KINABALU: Schools and any educational institutions should be spared from being involved in any political agendas, movements or activities including efforts to promote support for Palestine in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri president Datuk Henrynus Amin (pic) said discussions of such nature would disrupt learning in class and potentially create a tense atmosphere among students and teachers with different beliefs and thoughts about the issue.

He said recently, there was a circular coming from the Education Ministry dated Oct 21, calling for the implementation of Palestine Solidarity Week in educational institutions under the Education Ministry.

"Schools should focus on the preparation of the education curriculum, not mixing political discussions that are not relevant to the school curriculum," he said in a statement, Thursday (Oct 26).

Henrynus said Malaysia was a multi-racial and multi-religious country where students, teachers and parents might have different views on politics or the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

He said schools should be a neutral and inclusive environment for all students to gain knowledge and cultivate good values.

According to him, many parents were also disturbed by a video clip where school students entering their classroom stomped their feet on the flag of a foreign country with curses and insults.

"Is it appropriate for young school children to be exposed to sentiments of hatred against other races and religions?.

"I question the true intention of civil servants to use schools and school students to postulate their political views of international political issues," he said.

Henrynus said Anak Negeri fully understood the support of the public and the outpouring of sympathy among Malaysians for the purpose of supporting the humanitarian cause in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian war in Gaza.

The Israeli-Palestinian war in Gaza was a sad humanitarian tragedy where innocent civilians on both sides were victims of a cruel war, Henrynus said.

Anak Negeri regrets the death or injury of thousands of innocent people on both sides, whether Israel or Palestine, especially involving innocent children, women and the elderly, he said.

"Anak Negeri urges Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to take diplomatic steps in the international arena to find a lasting and peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," he said.

Henrynus said the party also supported the proposed two state solution, namely Israel and Palestine.