WE ARE WITH PALESTINE, BUT LEAVE OUR CHILDREN OUT! HATRED IS NOT FOR THEM TO KNOW NOW. IT CAN WAIT!

Pray about the sweeping knee jerk decisions made by the administration, dragging school children into an area they should be free of.

The seeds of hostility is freely sown herein. Pray too the voices of reason get their message through to the administration.

JOINT PRESS STATEMENT

25th October 2023

16.30pm

KEEP INTERNATIONAL CONFLICTS OUT OF SCHOOLS

A group of NGOs including from Sabah & Sarawak were shocked over a notice from the Minstry of Education dated 21st October 2023 calling for all schools to demonstrate and observe a solidarity week in support of Palestinians' cause.

The notice from the Office of the Deputy Director-General of Education singles out six proposed activities to be carried out in all schools.

The collective of NGO's is deeply concerned over this controversial event by a simple administrative ruling without discussions on its appropriateness at Dewan Rakyat or without consulting the parents. The proposed action has not been adequately considered for its long term impact. We NGO's here are seemingly reflecting community views as well.

We are looking at the seriousness of dragging school children's in becoming part of the global, grown up adult world of protests and not subject young minds getting embroiled in this Middle East crisis.

We caution that the six propositions can go wrong and be a cause for concern and with far-reaching repercussion.

We have seen before how a particular school in Malaysia, very recently, had made its young students to stomp on an Israeli flag. Social media had gone viral on that posting causing alarm among citizens. Many netizens criticised this action and rightly held that the school is sowing hatred in these young, impressionable minds.

Parents send their children to National type schools, not only for academic progress but also hope for mental and social balance, developing, learning and interacting with other pupils of other races and religious faiths. School is a place for the instilling of moral ethics and values that enrich a multiracial, multicultural and multireligious Malaysian society.

We also remind the Government of Malaysia on the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 17th February 1995 and under Article 29, which states:

1. States Parties agree that the education of the child shall be directed to:

(b) The development of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and for the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations;

(d) The preparation of the child for responsible life in a free society, in the spirit of understanding, peace, tolerance, equality of sexes, and friendship among all peoples, ethnic, national and religious groups and persons of indigenous origin.

We therefore categorically urge the Ministry of Education and the government to keep international politics (conflicts), religious disputes and war-cries out of schools and education institutions.

Members of NGOs and netizens has raised their concerns that the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is giving the impression of angling the Israel-Hamas war also as a religious perspective as well as taking political and territorial sides.

The government has clearly taken sides and joined various quarters globally hinting anti-semitism. Malaysia has a long track record, known globally, as a peace loving and peace keeping nation.

We should stand up for peace and demand for the halting of all civilian casualties and not spike the crisis further by siding one nation state while condemning another with racist undertones. Malaysia should be focusing more on reviving our economic crisis and the fall of Malaysian Ringgit in the wake of this Middle East war.

We fear the misalignment of sentiments, condemnation, hatred and prejudices being championed by zealous teachers who are led to believe this is a religious war and that anti semitism is therefore justified. We cannot poison our young children's minds.

Hence, the government also needs to consider Malaysian students who are studying abroad. Their welfare and safety cannot be jeopardised as a result of the government's stand on the war crisis.

Thus the government needs to bare in mind regards to many Malaysians travelling abroad would be subjected visa refusals getting crutunize or any sort of other danger of life threatening situation.

Let us stop getting our children and the people of Malaysia baited to the problems that are growing larger by the days.

List of NGO's In Support of This Collective Press Statement:

1. Global Human Rights Federation (GHRF) Deputy President- Peter John Jaban

2. Dato' RRM Krishnan

President

Persatuan Bekas Pelajar Sekolah Tamil Malaysia (PERTAMA)

3. Daniel John Jambun President Borneo's Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo)

4. Bill Jugah, President, ICON - Independent Coalition Of Natives, Sarawak

5. Kanul Gindol Chairman Gindol Initiative for Civil Society Borneo

6. Cleftus Stephen Mojingol President Pertubuhan kebajikan Rumpun Dayak Sabah

7. Jovilis Majami President Persatuan pembangunan sosial komunity Sabah (BANGUN)

8. Voon Lee Shan President party Bumi Kenyalang Sarawak.

9. Dominique Ng, President, Sarawak Association for People's Aspirations

10.Thomas Patrick.

Sec General

Persatuan Kebajikan Persaudaraan Sahabat Miri Sarawak.

11. Valentino Ngabong

President

Persatuan Etnik Dayak Asal Sarawak

12.Badindang Lai Upeng

(President)

Gerempung Raban Dayak Kuching

13. Tan Boon Tak (President)

Malaysia Chinese Educated Students Association)

14. Arun Dorasamy (Chairman- Centre for Education Excellence - Hindu Agamam Ani Msia)

15. Siti Kasim - Founder MAJU

16. Brig Gen Dato Mohamed Arshad Raji

Persatuan Patriot Kebangsaan

17.Dato Fabian Wong

Persatuan Veteran Tentera Kor Renjer/The Society for Kuching Urban Poor.

Thank you

Peter John Jaban

0168605272