YOURSAY ‘Being pro-Pakatan is not against the government, it is just against BN.’

Teacher on ministry's radar over Facebook posts

Akumelayuislam: Politics is not just for politicians but also for all the rakyat. Teachers, engineers, drivers, farmers, clerks, police, pilots - they all have the right to share their political views. And as long as their work is not affected, nobody can touch them.

Why are they so scared of what a teacher has put up on her private Facebook account when BN is using the rakyat's television and radio stations like its own?

CiViC: What's democracy, freedom of speech and the Internet if one cannot have one’s own beliefs and ideology? If pro-BN supporters (including teachers and civil servants) can post and share whatever they like on BN, why not the other side?

Are Pakatan Rakyat supporters not citizens too? Being pro-Pakatan is not against the government, it is just against BN, which does not equate to the country.    

A.A: What the teacher does in her own time outside school is her own business, as long as she does not break any law or openly set bad examples for her students.

On the other hand, if she is using up valuable classroom teaching time to post pictures and comments in Facebook, that is a different story.

In such a case, she should be warned, irrespective of whether she is posting DAP’s Teluk Intan candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud's poster or writing comments praising new Teluk Intan candidate Mah Siew Keong, or even Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak or commenting on the latest news about her favourite actor.

Appum: This is sheer Umno hypocrisy. Selected rules for selected people. I totally agree that teachers or civil servants do not play or participate in politics. But is this the real scenario?

Just look at the civil servants these days, from clerks to directors-general. Many of them are directly Umno members and hold divisional posts.

Didn't teachers from the Sultan Idris Teachers College,Tanjung Malim, form the bulk of Umno leaders previously? So where is the clear and fair rule with regard to teachers? Civil servants can be Umno politicians, but not in the opposition?

The correct ruling is to ban all civil servants, from Division 1 to the lowest level, from active politics or becoming political party members. Of course, they must be left to vote for any party they like in any election. Not necessarily Umno or any ruling party.

Now, Tengku Adnan has announced he welcomes teachers back to politics! (Although he wants them to support BN).

Anon1: Notice how the civil service has been indoctrinated with the idea that Umno is the government? Loyalty to the government and loyalty to a political party are two distinct issues.

But with an education policy that does not encourage critical thinking, this is what you get: a bigoted group promoted for that reason only and to do the political bidding of the ruling coalition.

Multi Racial: The problem with our government servants is that they behave more like Umno servants, rather than government servants.

The problem with Malaysia is that we have been under one party rule for way too long, so much so that those who serve the country cannot differentiate between loyalty to the country and loyalty to a political party.

Nothing wrong for teachers to be active in politics, as long as it does not affect their work and also if they do not use office time for campaigning.

Sodom me Sodom you: Our nation since her inception was nurtured and strengthened by teachers. Teachers are the beacon that will shine through the twisted reality that's shrouding us.

We need empowered teachers like this lady who not only knows right from wrong but has the fortitude to stand up for it.

Educating our young to break free from the brainwash and to think and evaluate for themselves is the primary education that is greatly needed and has been missing in our system. Malaysia is wakening.

Odysseus: Teachers are just like anyone of us. As long as it's within the boundary of the legal system and teaching profession’s procedures, they should be allowed to express their opinions. If they have violated the law, charge them for it. Don't harass them.

 Anonymous #19098644: The state education officer is right, teachers should concentrate on teaching and not on politics. Hence all the teachers who are Umno members and delegates should be told to resign from Umno.

AsAConcernedRakyatHeSays: Teachers have their rights. No wonder our country is going more backwards each year. It's okay. There is a large cave in Malaysia. I am sure it can fit everyone there.

Justice Fairness: Teachers should just concentrate on teaching. Politics must not reach our classroom or be spread to children who are too young to understand. Focus on the job at hand.

Robbed!!: Yep, just speak your mind. If you get transferred or sacked, sue the socks out of them. Don’t worry. Good teachers are always welcome to teach in private schools, which are flourishing.

Geronimo: Teachers should concentrate on teaching and not on politics? During the early days of Umno, where do you think the bulk of support for the party came from? The teachers. Without them, Umno Baru will not be what it is today.

Dearpixel: Teachers in their professional capacity should be neither active nor passive conduits of political opinions. They should be teaching the young people critical thinking, the art of debate, and the principal freedoms of democracy. Oh, we're still teaching grammar?

Mr KJ John: Dear cikgu, they are violating your legitimate rights as a citizen of Malaysia. Facebook is private space in the public arena and you have every right to express yourself freely, as long as you do it in your private time and space.

Rakyat-concern: What a stupid statement that "teachers should concentrate on teaching not politics". The teacher is also a Malaysian, and that makes it all the more a good reason for her to be concerned about politics and the betterment of the country she lives in.

Aries46: While the actions of education authorities to intimidate the teacher cannot be condoned under any circumstance, the teacher herself needs to face reality and be less naive.

Everyone knows about the over-dominance of one race and religion in the civil service, their over-dependency on the politicised administration and the fine line that separates Umno's hidden hands that control its governance.

Though civil servants, on the surface, are free to support any political party of their choice, few would dare to stray from tradition as most fear the repercussions from hidden hands.

Many are also fear that their votes can be traced as the ballots are numbered and noted and this has been at times openly touted by some party insiders who caution civil servants to toe the line.

Despite all this sinister realities, civil servants who value their constitutional right to an independent stand have to watch their backs - or be prepared to face the consequences, teachers notwithstanding.

Chris Wong: Bodoh, teachers cannot have political views meh? The socio-economic-political status of a country depends on an educated citizenry. Teachers are part of the warganegara Malaysia, and this teacher should not be harassed if she professes support for any political party.

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