YOURSAY | ‘I send my child to school for an education, and not for party political propaganda.’

Pupils chant 'Hidup Umno', party flags adorn school for competition

Gerard Lourdesamy: Hundreds of pupils and teachers of SK Putrajaya Presint 14 (1) participated in a “class decoration and performance” competition with the theme "Umno and independence #Negaraku".

The event was organised by the Federal Territories Ministry, the Putrajaya Education Department, the Putrajaya Umno division education bureau, and two other NGOs.

This is a blatant violation of the Education Ministry guidelines on such events. There must be no political speeches, party flags, symbols, songs and slogans. So why did this principal breach the Education Ministry policy? Is he an Umno member?

If the Education Ministry defends the action of this school and principal, then at the state level in opposition-controlled states, the menteri besar, chief minister and executive councillors ought to be allowed to visit schools for similar events. Otherwise, it is blatant hypocrisy.

The principal of this school should be reminded that it is the taxpayer who funds his salary and his school and not Umno/BN or the individual minister concerned. But since it was Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, this sort of nonsense is to be expected.

As a parent, I send my child to school for an education, and not for party political propaganda. What next, indoctrinating our kids at the nursery level like some communist states?

Cogito Ergo Sum: We have descended into the abyss with this event. It is a sign of utter desperation when a primary school is being politically indoctrinated with bigotry.

What good do the organisers hope to get from this? The pupils are too young to vote in the 14th general election.

A really desperate strategist must have cooked up this infantile exercise to get himself into the books of an increasingly fractious and desperate party leadership.

As the days go by, the political stunts are becoming more and more disingenuous.

Anonymous 2465861491622056: The Education Ministry did not allow Lim Guan Eng as chief minister of Penang to go to a school to make a donation, on the premise it does not allow politics in schools.

However, in Putrajaya where SK Putrajaya Presint 14 (1) is located under their nose, they allow political flags and Umno songs.

It is these actions that rile up the rakyat against the government. Instead of taking action against the principal of this school, an excuse will be made.

Ferdtan: The education minister should sack the principal for allowing his school and schoolchildren to be used for political purposes.

After all, a chief minister of Penang cannot even enter a school for charitable purposes. How come there is a double standard?

Can police reports be made by parents of these children against Tengku Adnan and the headmaster for involving their underaged children in political activities? At least, this may stop future attempts by Umno to do the same.

Clrtkfu: Is there any difference between what is happening in this school and a school in North Korea?

It is also beyond stupid to think that these young children will help them win the next election. Maybe they have so little support that they need to force young children to give them the feel-good ‘siok sendiri’ that they are not able to get from supporters.

Aquinas Says: This is one good reason many parents don’t send their kids to government schools. This is wrong on so many levels and should be stopped, but don’t expect Umno to listen.

Abasir: When asked about Umno flags and the fact that students were made to sing the party song, school principal Mohd Amin Hamzah said: "This is just temporary."

That's great news. Now schools in Selangor and Penang can put up Pakatan Harapan, Amanah, DAP, and PKR flags and sing any of their songs... so long as it is temporary.

Bilqis Hijjas ordered to enter defence on yellow balloon charge

Quigonbond: The High Court in Kuala Lumpur has ordered dance producer Bilqis Hijjas, 38, to enter her defence on the charge of insulting behaviour likely to cause a breach of peace.

The director of public prosecution and the High Court are really going out of their way with this one. The gazette outlawing Bersih material is no longer valid, which renders the act of dropping balloons in and of itself harmless.

I think there is a lot of pressure to convict Bilqis because the powers-that-be are fearful that many more types of balloons of a democratic nature or of good governance will be thrown near them in the future.

It may seem trifling to other Malaysians, but there's much to be said about art that reaches out to someone and strikes home at their deepest fears. In this case, yellow balloons have hit home. If you want to drive the first couple of Malaysia irrational, you know what to use now.

6th Generation Immigrant: Did any of the judges, prosecution lawyers and defence lawyers ask Bilqis, while she released the balloons with "“Free media,” “Democracy,” and “Justice” on them, whether or not she did it in support of the prime minister, Umno and BN?

Because strangely, these are the exact themes and points of the PM's countless speeches. The PM and his plaintiffs should not be paranoid as the words “Free media,” “Democracy,” and “Justice” sound very supportive and pro-Najib and are used by them daily - well, unless that's mere lip service!

Would the act take a shift in intent and meaning if the very same balloons were cast, say, by either the prime minister’s wife or Jamal Md Yunos of the Red Shirts?

It is hard to judge, so giving the benefit of the doubt is obvious. The laundrette segregation issue was silly, now this decision for Bilqis’ case to go to trial tops the bill in the same category.

Thickskin: "The judge said that the manner in which the balloons were thrown nonetheless showed that they were clearly directed at the guests of the function." How did the judge come to this conclusion?

And only in Malaysia are the words “free media”, “justice” and “democracy" banned and considered against democracy.

Newday: Oh dear - just as you thought sensible decisions were made by the court in this matter well over 12 months ago, obviously our ruling party was not happy and decided to throw the book at her.

Time and again, democracy has steadily been shut down by these control freaks. Not one person in this country that speaks out and exercises their democratic right is safe to do so.

Oh well, at least we have Malaysiakini (for the time being) to vent our frustration over these issues. Bilqis, I and many others are solidly behind you in this matter.

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