Johor sultan wants action if claims of SPM workshop segregation true

Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has called for action if allegations that a school in the state willfully excluded non-Muslims from an SPM workshop recently.

The monarch said action should also be taken if the allegation turned out to be false.

"Nobody must be left out of any public programme because of their race or religion.

"If it is true that there was racial segregation, then action must be taken against the organisers.

"The same can also be said if it is found that these allegations are proven false and spread by irresponsible parties," His Royal Highness said in a statement last night.

There was a stir on social media after it was alleged that non-Muslim students at SMK Infant Jesus Convent were intentionally left out of an SPM workshop - which was held at a hotel - on Jan 19 and 20.

Twitter user Anne Louis, who brought the matter to light, claimed initially that the workshop was held just for Muslim students under the guise of it only covering Islamic Studies.

She alleged it was discovered later that other SPM subjects, such as Chemistry and Additional Mathematics, were also covered in the workshop.

Disgruntled parents confronted headmaster

She said disgruntled parents confronted the headmaster on WhatsApp, and were allegedly told that as a high-performing school, an intervention was needed to help some 40 Malay students who were at risk of failing their SPM examinations.

The headmaster had reportedly denied racism in the matter, and that the only intention was to preserve the all-girl school's status as a high-performing institute.

The names and phone numbers of those in the chat had been redacted and Malaysiakini has not been able to verify the message with the school.

However, a statement from the Education Ministry later said that the plan was to have two separate sessions for the workshop, in order to avoid disrupting Chinese New Year celebrations.

The second session is slated to take place on Jan 26 and 27.

The ministry did not mention the ethnicity or religion of the students who took part in the workshop on Jan 19 and 20, nor did it confirm or deny that this batch of students was all Muslims.

The headmaster's purported explanation to the parents, meanwhile, made no mention of a second workshop for non-Malay students being held, or that the workshop would be split into two.

Maintain social harmony

Meanwhile, Sultan Ibrahim in his statement said issues such as this must be handled swiftly in order to maintain social harmony.

"I don’t want my 'Bangsa Johor' to be confused and begin turning on each other. I cannot emphasise enough the need for racial understanding, unity and tolerance.

“The Education Department must be quick to respond in these situations to prevent emotions and falsehoods from running wild.

"This is also a lesson to all parties who must deal swiftly and firmly to quell public dissatisfaction," Sultan Ibrahim added.

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