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'Making racist remarks is a hate-crime'
Published:  Aug 29, 2010 9:02 AM
Updated: Aug 30, 2010 3:17 AM

vox populi small thumbnail 'Don't trivialise making racist remarks as 'a form of letting of steam'. I don't think anyone would like to see me 'let off steam'.

 

 

Racist remarks in schools common, says educationist

Anonymous: Racism and racist remarks have no place in our multiracial society. Yesterday, the Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak declared that he has "zero tolerance on racism" . Well said and noted.

But actions must follow words; otherwise, there's no meaning when deeds are not seen. There have been countless cases of racist remarks. We have yet to see action being taken. Let us have ‘performance now'.

A true leader will act at once. He will not look over his shoulders to see whether his actions will hurt him politically. If he's hurt, so be it! Have the courage of conviction to do the right thing in spite of the political consequences. We look forward to such a leader. Will such a leader stand up?

Freemen: An educator who ignites racial flames has no excuse at all. First and foremost, teachers are there to provide avenues for the questioning mind to learn. In the pursuit of education, one realises actually how much or how little one really knows about anything around us.

But unfortunately, we have educated morons who go around thinking they are a higher class of people. All the money spent on educating such people have gone to waste.

Alfy: I have many teachers who say racism in schools is common. Blame the leaders for this as they are the ones who have propagated racialism since the New Economic Policy.

Keturunan Malaysia: If you have a bad egg, you don't transfer it to another nest. In the case of the ‘racist' teacher, you give an awfully stern warning and any repeat should merit sacking and not a desk job.

If this is done and seen to be done without hesitation, fear and favour, then that's a great step forward to make racist remarks uncommon.

Temenggong: When educators make racial derogatory statements on the impressionable, they are chargeable in court as hate crimes. Don't trivialise it as 'a form of letting of steam'. I don't think anyone would like to see me 'let off steam'.

Swipenter: Now we see what closed-door discussions lead to: just sweeping everything under the carpet and denying that there is any rot underneath the thin beautiful veneer.

The other undesirable result of having only closed-door discussions is that the dominant group gets way with almost everything until the other side has had enough of being bullied, and fights back.

Mohd Hazwan: (Former National Union of the Teaching Profession president) P Ramanathan should understand that not going to the media and sweeping things under the carpet is never a solution. This type of solution is the reason why we have problems like this sprouting out each time and also the reason why NUTP is so ineffective in ensuring quality education for our children in Malaysia.

JBGUY: For too long racial polarisation has existed without any serious effort being made to eradicate it. Schools have become simmering cauldrons of racial bigotry.

The fact that the national schools only favour one race or religion is testament to the fact that other races or religions are held in low esteem. Article 8 of our constitution is mere lip service. The contributions of the non-Malays to this country are not emphasised at all. Islam proclaims fairness to all irrespective of religion but the Malays who profess this religion are willing to omit this from their faith.

Has the government not realised the disenchantment of the non-Malays with the educationists and the education system? Who are we kidding? Each day passes and non-Malays feel that they are second-class citizens.

However, the vast majority of the Malays do not reap the benefits of the so-called pro-Malay policies. Najib, if you are man enough, undo all the damage caused by your government over the years.

Dark Knight: Ramanathan, do you know that while teachers are entrusted with educating children, they themselves are misfits in society?

A flower for the Penan

Help: Sim Kwang Yang, you have struggled for the Penans. These people are in deep jungles where communication is an arduous task. Reaching them is one big problem. Getting them to trust you as their warrior is another.

But your relentless efforts have borne fruit. Who can the downtrodden look to for help? Who can hear their anguish cries for help? Who can really help them? Though they may be in a minority, they need all the help that Sim Kwang Yang and others could offer.

Do we allow our brethren to be stomped upon because they are helpless and are of little political significance because of their small number? No! Because they are in the minority, they need more help, not less.

Voice: It is now an open secret that the logging companies in Sarawak are raping the forest whereas their employees are raping the Penan, the inhabitants of the forest. Together they work hand in glove in committing crimes against nature and humanity.

Hudud issue: Karpal puts his foot down

Kgen: Karpal Singh, PAS is free to express its ideology. In a practical sense, hudud cannot be implemented, as PAS by itself will never win enough seats to change the constitution. So why oppose something which is academic?

Did Malaysia change because Dr Mahathir Mohamad declared Malaysia an Islamic state? Stay focused on the battle for Putrajaya. The Chinese are already fed-up with this academic hudud debate. They know what PAS stands for, but they still support PAS because they know that hudud can never be implemented.

Hello: I support YB Karpal totally. It's better to get this issue sorted out and understood by the parties of Pakatan Rakyat now, rather than have quarrels and confrontations later when Pakatan is in government.

The parties of Pakatan must understand that they go into government under the common policies agreed on prior to forming Pakatan. Anything outside of the agreed common policies must be taboo, otherwise Pakatan will break asunder. Better now rather than later.

 

 


 

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