Pointing out that Masing never played the racial card, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth deputy chief Sempurai Petrus Ngalai said Masing was not being racist when voicing out that it was inevitable for parents to feel disturbed by the appointment of an Ustaz from Kelantan as the school’s new principal.
He explained that the senior minister’s opinion was based on the fact that SMK Sungai Paoh, located near Sarikei, is not an Islamic religious school and that most of the students are non-Muslims, and the recent reported cases of Muslim teachers converting non-Muslim Bumiputera students in government schools had led to the apprehension.
“We, the PRS Youth exco, wish to make it crystal clear that the party does not play racial and religious drums. What we and our president (Masing) said is that Sarawak has its own qualified teachers, be they Malay, Iban, Bidayuh or Orang Ulu, to become the principal of Sungai Paoh secondary school.
“The predicament has nothing to do with a Kelantanese Ustaz being given the chance to become principal, whereby there are plenty of local teachers who are equally qualified,” Sempurai said in a statement yesterday.
He added: “Please check your fact before accusing our president as a racist. In fact, who demonstrated a more racist conduct here? The one who implemented or the one who questioned the practice?”
Masing was reported in the media on Wednesday as feeling that the Ministry of Education had made a mistake in appointing an Ustaz to head a school which has an enrolment of 72 per cent non-Muslims out of its 964 students.
He reportedly explained that the principal of a secondary school in the rural area is seen as a respected community leader and is often invited to social gatherings by the people. If an Ustaz took up the post, it could prove difficult as the principal might have to take part in ceremonial functions and activities which could be against his religion, he argued.
He also reminded that the rampant Islamisation of non-Muslim native students in Sarawak of late had made people look at the appointment of the Ustaz as head of a rural school with suspicion. Masing suggested for the Education Ministry to look at the appointment from various angles such as religion and culture.-Borneo Post
Post a Comment