Media Statement by Lim Kit Siang in Petaling
Jaya
on Tuesday, 12nd August 2008:
Hishammuddin should explain to
Parliament and Permatang Pauh voters why the Education Ministry is
condoning the unforgivable misbehaviour of a history teacher who
repeatedly made racist, derogatory and even unprintable slurs against
Indian students and the Indian community in class
The New Straits Times today carried the
following report:
Racial abuse teacher gets ‘a better
deal’
By : V. Shankar Ganesh
BANTING: It obviously pays to hurl racial abuse at students, going
by what happened to the teacher who did so at a school here.
The 35-year-old history teacher from SM Telok Panglima Garang was
not only transferred to a smart school but to one located nearer her
house.
To add insult to injury, no disciplinary action was taken against
her.
It is understood that her letter of transfer stated that she was
being transferred due to concerns for her security and not because
she had committed an offence.
Several parents and non-governmental rganizations gathered in front
of the school yesterday demanding an explanation from the headmaster
for letting her off with just a slap on the wrist.
However, the headmaster refused to meet them, saying the matter was
no longer related to the school since the teacher had been
transferred.
Coalition of Indian NGOs secretary G. Gunaraj said the transfer
showed the teacher had got away scot-free.
”In fact, she even got a better deal. She is now in a better school
and one that is nearer to her house.”
He said this set a dangerous precedent as others may think they too
can get away scot-free uttering racial slurs.
He said the Education Ministry should be serious in tackling the
issue as what the teacher had done could affect racial harmony.
This is the latest episode which is marring
the 51st Merdeka Anniversary celebrations in less than three weeks time,
highlighting the many failures in nation-building despite the government
budgeting tens of millions of ringgit for this occasion.
The Education Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein should explain
to Parliament, the nation and the voters of Permatang Pauh why the
Education Ministry is condoning the unforgivable misbehaviour of a
history teacher who repeatedly made racist, derogatory and even
unprintable slurs against Indian students and the Indian community in
class.
By giving the delinquent teacher a “better deal” for her disgraceful
misbehaviour, the Education Ministry is sending out a wrong and
completely unacceptable message to all teachers as well as making a
total mockery of the legitimate protests of the parents and the
Coalition of Malaysians Indian NGOs who had protested against the
teacher’s misconduct.
Or is Hishammuddin just unfit to demand that teachers should be
exemplary model Malaysians to the new generation of students rising
above race and religion when he himself has failed so miserably on this
score with his three “keris-wielding” episodes at the Umno Youth general
assemblies, showing utter insensitivity to the sensitivities of a plural
Malaysian society and which is acknowledged by UMNO and Barisan Nasional
leaders as a major cause for the Barisan Nasional defeats in the March
general election and “political tsunami”?
*
Lim
Kit Siang, DAP
Parliamentary leader & MP for Ipoh Timor
http://dapmalaysia.org