PKR politicians call ministry to review decision on Solidarity With Palestine Week in schools

PETALING JAYA: Review the decision to organise the Solidarity With Palestine Week in schools and public education institutions, a group of PKR MPs and state assemblymen has told the Education Ministry.

They said in a joint statement on Saturday (Oct 28) that schools and education institutions should be free of elements of any vengeance and violence.

“We were made to understand that the ministry intends to educate students in values of humanity, human rights and compassion towards the sufferings (of the Palestinians), but it is difficult for the ministry to monitor the Solidarity With Palestine Week programme to ensure it reaches its goal without spreading vengeance and violence,” they said.

“At the same time, we urge the ministry to take stringent action against any parties who fail to adhere to the ministry’s guidelines and evoke violence with the use of replica weapons in schools,” they said.

The statement further read that it was inappropriate to “bring an international conflict into schools”, therefore the programme must be reviewed.

The people and the government, they said, should remain rational while supporting the struggle of the Palestinians and at the same time they should not evoke the issue of vengeance in public institutions.

On Thursday (Oct 26), the ministry announced that all educational institutions under its purview would be holding Palestine Solidarity Week next week, that is, from Oct 29 to Nov 3, in response to the government's stance of standing together to defend the rights and freedom of the Palestinian people.

The ministry said it does not endorse any demonstration of support for Palestine that borders on the extreme, such as the waving of replica firearms or hoisting of banners inciting violence.

In a statement on Oct 27, the ministry said it is aware of a widely circulated video depicting the goings-on in a school showing radicalism.

“This programme is also outside the designated hours for the Palestine Solidarity Week and is not in accordance with the guidelines stipulated by the ministry,” it said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Putrajaya would now closely monitor all activities during the Solidarity With Palestine Week in schools to ensure that these activities do not “go overboard”. Anwar said such things “need to be controlled”.

The statement was signed by Gopeng MP Tan Kar Hing, Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung, Miri MP Chiew Choon Man, Kebun Bunga assemblyman Lee Boon Heng, Rawang assemblyman Chua Wei Kiat, Semanbu assemblyman Chan Chun Kuang, Simpang Pulai assemblyman Wong Chai Yi, Chuah assemblyman Yew Boon Lye, Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik, Kajang assemblyman David Cheong Kian Yong, Bukit Batu assemblyman Arthur Chiong Sen Sern and Bakar Arang assemblyman Adam Loh Wei Chai.