It was reported yesterday that at least three non-Muslim pupils have left the SK Sri Pristana and 10 others are set to follow suit due to bullying and intimidation problems at the school.
The school’s Parent Teacher Association claimed that they were in the dark.
It is shocking and sad that the problem of bullying and intimidation was not nipped in the bud when the whistleblower Gunewsari’s daughter’s plight of being picked on and ostracized was first widely reported.
The Education Minister, his officials and the school kept quiet when Guneswari had to transfer her out of SK Seri Pristana to a Tamil school.
Now, the problem has got bigger.
Transferring to a new school can create other problems and inconveniences like transportation issues etc. Which parent will allow his or her child to suffer the pains of being bullied and ostracized?
It is worrying too that this whole problem may soon become a racial problem.
There is no doubt that the person who must be held responsible for not nipping the bullying problem in the bud is the Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin.
It is baffling and unbelievable that Tan Sri Muhyiddin could remain silent and do nothing till this day.
It is no wonder that his silence and inactions have resulted in so much doubt being raised about whether he is fit to be the nation’s Education Minister.
I tend to agree with former Cabinet member Zaid Ibrahim when he tweeted yesterday that “Macam mana Education Blueprint kalau sekolah Sri Pristina tak boleh selesai”.
Can you answer this , Tan Sri Muhyiddin?
The time has come for immediate Cabinet attention and action on the school problems and issues as they cannot and must not be prolonged.
The Police deserve to be criticized for “interviewing” the pupils and causing traumas to them.
How could the Police be so unprofessional and insensitive not to understand how primary school children will react to being “interviewed’ by police?
The Police explanation that the pupils were “interviewed’ and “not questioned” is weak and unacceptable.
The least the Police must do is offer apology to the children’s parents.
The authorities must also provide counseling help to the children who are psychologically traumatized by the bullying as well as the “interview”.