KUALA LUMPUR – Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek (Nibong Tebal-PH) today apologised to the Indian community over the banning of Tamil songs at last weekend’s national-level Tamil Language Carnival in Kepala Batas, Penang.
She said the Ministry of Education (MOE) took full responsibility for the incident, adding that it should not have happened.
MOE has also taken strict action against the officer found to be negligent in handling the event, she said, assuring that such incidents will not recur.
“Therefore, in my capacity as the minister, I express deep regret and, on behalf of the ministry, would like to apologise to the Indian community offended by the circumstances, technical errors, communication lapses and all other intentions that occurred during the event.
“We take full responsibility… this matter was indeed unintended, unprecedented… there was absolutely no intention to marginalise any community,” she said when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2024 at the committee stage for the ministry in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Fadhlina assured that the song ‘Tamil Valthu’ will be performed at the Penang-level Deepavali celebration on November 29 so that it can be appreciated by educators in the state.
She said to further strengthen understanding of matters involving culture, traditions and religious practices, multiple discussion channels will be used including existing education committees and parent-teacher associations.
Previously, several MPs and political parties had urged MOE to investigate the incident involving the ban on the performance of ‘Kadavul Valthu’ and ‘Tamil Valthu’ at the opening ceremony of the Tamil language carnival hosted by the ministry at a hotel in Kepala Batas. – November 27, 2023