Lawyer: Take religion out of schools, leave it to the rulers
Human rights lawyer Siti Kasim has urged the government to leave religious affairs to the rulers and keep religion out of national schools.
Speaking at a forum titled "Whither Maruah Malaysia 2.0" in Kuala Lumpur today, Siti said such a policy would help address racial and religious problems in the country while preventing "brainwashing" in schools.
"Malaysia seemed to be getting more and more racist and exclusivist in its religious policies by the day," she said, adding problem arises as race and religion was used as political weapon to the fullest.
Human rights lawyer Siti Kasim has urged the government to leave religious affairs to the rulers and keep religion out of national schools.
Speaking at a forum titled "Whither Maruah Malaysia 2.0" in Kuala Lumpur today, Siti said such a policy would help address racial and religious problems in the country while preventing "brainwashing" in schools.
"Malaysia seemed to be getting more and more racist and exclusivist in its religious policies by the day," she said, adding problem arises as race and religion was used as a political weapon to the fullest.
"(They) use the emotions of the Malays to hate others... We are by any measure today one of, if not the, most racist and religiously bigoted nation on earth."
As examples, Siti said Malaysia reserves a large chunk of university placements and civil service for one ethnic group.
"What is the solution? We must actually force our government to change the education system, change our national schools
"If you do not improve the standard of national schools, I think not even the Malay want to send their kids to the national schools within the next 10 years."
However, Siti believed that the government of the day does not have the fortitude to transform the education system because politicians are looking out for their own interests.
"The richest and poorest people in Malaysia are the Malay. They (the politicians) don't want to change the narrative of the Malay because they want to continue robbing the poor Malays.
"They want to keep the Malay stupid by not changing the education system. They are saying you are not suppose to question as it is against the god to do so.
"I would also suggest the government to seperate religion and state, leave religion to the Sultan bcos that is under their purview, not under the federal government," she said.
The forum, which is conducted in response to the Malay Dignity Congress, was attended by some 200 people.
Other speakers at the event were former Bar Council chairperson S Ambiga, scholar Lim Teck Ghee, former MP Tawfik Ismail, MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker, columnist Johan Ariffin Samad and See Chee How, special aide to the works minister.
Ambiga said the current education system was like a crime committed on children and the adults should be held responsible for what they have done to the future generation.
"Our education currently is a crime upon our children and there are no two ways about that. In fact, we should be held responsible for what we are doing to the next generation," she said.
"It is absolutely tragic. Education is our top priority. But there is no point asking why the education minister not listening to us, we have to come out with something to recalibrate the entire nation," she said.
Johan, meanwhile, said the government should come out with a clear education policy.
"If you are guided by the Islamic faith, it doesn't help the country, I think the narrative has to be changed," he said.
The Sabahan researcher said he sent his two children to Chinese primary schools so they could excel in mathematics and science besides being better disciplined.
He said he would oppose it if someone called for the closure of vernacular schools.
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