DAP rep claims 'pressure from above' led to nixing of donation handover at school
DAP's Paloh state assemblyperson Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali is demanding answers over the last-minute cancellation of a planned appearance at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Paloh 2 to hand over donations to approximately 200 students, teachers and staff who tested positive for Covid-19.
He said in a statement today that he received an anonymous call at 11.30 last night, urging him to cancel his appearance as the school had received "pressure from above" following an earlier visit on Monday, April 5...
DAP's Paloh state assemblyperson Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali is demanding answers over the last-minute cancellation of a planned appearance at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Paloh 2 to hand over donations to approximately 200 students, teachers and staff who tested positive for Covid-19.
He said in a statement today that he received an anonymous call at 11.30 last night, urging him to cancel his appearance as the school had received "pressure from above" following an earlier visit on Monday, April 5.
A shocked Sheikh Umar, who served in the Johor state Exco from May 2018 until last February is seeking answers from the Education Ministry after he contacted the school's Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and was told that the appearance had indeed been cancelled.
"The items to be donated are donations from my office, the Mengkibol state assemblyperson's office and the public. Donated items include rice, biscuits and facemasks.
"Last night, I contacted the school’s PTA to make a submission at SK Paloh 2 this morning.
"However, around 11.30 last night, I was contacted by an individual who refused to reveal his identity and appealed for the handover programme to be cancelled immediately, saying that the school received 'pressure from above' since I visited on March 5, 2021," Sheikh Umar said.
On his previous visit, he had provided food to students and staff who were in charge of conducting the Covid-19 diagnostic smear tests.
He said following the anonymous call, he contacted the PTA and they confirmed the cancellation.
"For the record, I only intended to do a handover of these 200 donated items to the school. Further, it can be delivered to each recipient through the mediation of the school.
"I have no plans to make deliveries to each of the 200 individual recipients. It is hoped that it can be arranged more carefully by the school, given its larger area which can facilitate the SOP compliance process," said a frustrated Sheikh Umar.
"I would like to ask the education minister if it is true that there are obstacles imposed on schools from allowing elected representatives in the area to carry out welfare duties?
"I also request the minister to provide an explanation on the allegation of 'pressure from above', so that incidents such as the one in SK Paloh 2 do not cause confusion and spread to other areas," he said.
This matter must be given serious attention as representatives of the people should not be prevented from serving them, especially while facing the Covid-19 pandemic, Sheikh Umar added.
Malaysiakini is attempting to contact the school and its PTA to clarify the reason for the cancellation.
