MCA leader wants 'substandard' Jalur Gemilang badges reviewed

Summary

• MCA Youth’s Lee Kok Seng calls for a review of the Jalur Gemilang badge policy, citing safety concerns, including detached pins.

• He urges the Education Ministry to inspect the badges’ safety standards, audit the procurement process, and prioritise student wellbeing.

• Over nine million badges have been procured at an estimated RM6.94 million, with complaints surfacing within a week of distribution.

MCA Youth central committee member Lee Kok Seng has demanded a review of the Education Ministry’s policy of wearing Jalur Gemilang badges on school uniforms.

This comes after some of them were allegedly found to be substandard and could pose a risk to students.

Although the badges have only been in use for a week, numerous issues have been reported, including sharp pins, insecure fastenings, fragile materials, and the pins becoming detached from their plastic backing.

“These flaws present significant risks, including puncture wounds, scratches, and potentially more serious injuries during students’ daily activities.

“Students are highly active in school, often engaging in sports and extracurricular activities. A low-quality badge could result in unpredictable bodily harm. Exposing children to such risks is irresponsible,” he said in a statement today.

Lee demanded that the ministry review its policy and conduct a thorough safety and quality inspection of the badges.

He also urged the ministry to disclose the procurement and tender process and subject it to independent auditing.

“It is essential to remember that school uniforms should prioritise comfort and safety. The current badges, however, have introduced a potentially dangerous accessory under the guise of a ‘patriotic display’.

“While there are many ways to foster patriotism in our students, this situation highlights a clear case of misplaced priorities,” he added.

The policy of wearing the Jalur Gemilang badges was enforced starting last Monday for all educational institutions under the Education Ministry. To facilitate this, two pin badges were provided to each student for free.

Last week, the National Parent-Teacher Association had similarly raised concerns about the use of a sharp pin to fasten the badges, and suggested that the flag should be imprinted on uniforms of younger students instead, beginning the next school year.

Responding to the criticism, The Star quoted Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek saying, “We’ve already given them out for free - the type that you pin on. Use those first.”

School badge contracts

According to procurement data compiled by Malaysiakini, the badges were procured in 38 different packages, each handled by a state education department, district education office, or a teacher’s training college.

The requests for tender were issued beginning March 12, and the results of 34 of these have been announced so far, along with the names of all 26 companies that won the contracts. Some companies won multiple contracts.

The suppliers mainly comprise companies that provide printing services and stationery supplies, with prices ranging between 72 sen and 80 sen per badge.

In total, 9,118,788 badges have been ordered. If the average cost of 76 sen per badge is maintained, the final cost of the procurement could reach RM6.94 million.

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