Students in Sabah are not prevented from wearing necklaces with religious symbols in school.

State Education Department director Jame Alip said however, that parents were required to fill a form provided by the school for permission to wear such items

He said the measure was necessary for the school to differentiate between a religious and a decorative necklace.          

"The school does not want students to wear stylish necklaces to school, or necklaces with a stylish or overly large religious symbol as this would be inappropriate," he told a media conference here today.

He said the school would issue a card to show that permission had been granted, and there would be no other queries.

Jame was referring to a local newspaper report which claimed that Sekolah Menengah Ken Hwa, Keningau had banned Christian students from wearing necklaces with religious symbols in the school compound.

He also refuted a claim that students who did not apply for the card would be caned and suspended from class.

Meanwhile, he urged principals and primary school heads to first discuss with their respective Parent-Teachers' Association before executing any school policy, and to refer to the Education Ministry's regulations and circulars.

- Bernama