What has become of our national schools? - MCCBCHST

The Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) notes the various media hightighting the fact that in SK Seri Pristana, Sungei Buloh, non-Muslim chlldren have been forced to eat in the shower/toilet during their break or recess in the holy month of Ramadan. The excuse provided by the school about 'renovations', has obviously been rejected by the authorities themselves who have stated they will take action.

The MCCBCHST is shocked that such clearly discriminatory and cruel action is perpetrate mistakenly in the name of lslamic scruples.

In addition, the MCCBCHST wishes to point out the following:

What message does this send to our children who are Muslims and non-Muslims? That in the name of religion, injustice and discrimination are meted out and obviously justified to these children.

Malaysian must ask where is the sense of righteous, basic human decency and moral values, when we allow such indiscrimination. Former Law Minister Zaid lbrahim has aptly described this fiasco as.....

"(Promoted by politicians and lslamic ) they have invaded the public space and filled the minds of the people with so much indoctrinal nonsense that some Malays and Muslims have forgotten basic human decency and moral values in their interpersonal relationalship with other'' (Malaysia Chronicle 24/7/2013 'Stand up for your rights' -Zaid)

Are we helping to raise Malaysians who are bigots, with a misunderstanding of what is required by their religion, and others who inadvertently but logically, then develop a resentment towards lslam? The ramifications for how we enable ALL of the future generations of Malaysians to live together without animosity, are enormous.

Non-Muslim children have the right to eat in their normal place for such a purpose: the canteen. While of course, the Muslim children need not be present in the canteen, which exists solely for the purpose of pupils buying and consuming food safely and hygienically during their Break/Recess.

The issue is serious, and we wonder if it has been going on for some time, and in various parts of Malaysia. How many more schools practise such discrimination in this country, with the Ministry of Education (MOE) let alone the State education departments UNAWARE of such treatment of children? lt is not enough for ONE such school to have been exposed, and then dealt with by the MOE.

Therefore the MCCBCHST demands that a firmly-worded circular is sent out IMMEDIATELY by Ministry of Education to ALL schools in Malaysia to discontinue such a practise if it is being implemented in any form. Urgency is of utmost importance.

* The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) is a non-profit interfaith organization in Malaysia. Formed in 1983, it is composed primarily of officials from the main non-Muslim faith communities in Malaysia and acts as a consultative and liaison body towards more open dialogue and co-operation.