Malaysians chide PAS over school canteen issue

PETALING JAYA: Malaysians have chided PAS for calling the Education Ministry's directive - to keep school canteens open during Ramadan - 'excessive'.

The Star readers expressed their views on Facebook, saying that Malaysians should learn to respect each other.

Nakanathan Kandasamy wrote, "Be tolerant to other religious people, they are not fasting."

Meanwhile, reader Chew Yew Bin said respect goes both ways.

"I don't think the pupils would mind (canteens being opened). Learn from them," she wrote.

Mior Mokhtar added that any work carried out by the government will always be objected to by the Opposition parties.

"Denying the income of operators for a month is compassionate? Not excessive?" commented Cheng Chee Fong.

Another reader, James Kawaii, went on to question PAS' logic by sarcastically asking why only school canteens should be closed.

"If you insist the school canteen to be closed, why not make it throughout the country? Why are you trying to instigate the education field?"

Kokchoy Liaw put it succinctly by just commenting: "Trouble makers".

PAS Ulama council chief Datuk Ahmad Yahaya had reportedly said the Education Ministry's directive for school canteens to remain open during Ramadan is controversial and "excessive".

He claimed that closing school canteens during Ramadan was a societal norm to respect Muslims who are fasting, adding that the ministry's decision could ignite public discord.

"Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek hastily issued the directive, which is disrespectful towards the holy month of Ramadan," he noted.