KUALA LUMPUR – Programmes held in schools nationwide to promote solidarity with under-siege Palestine must be properly managed, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said this when commenting on recent reports that some school students and teachers had waved around toy guns as part of programmes to show solidarity with Palestinians.
“We have to control this. The cabinet had a discussion just now. We encourage schools (to show solidarity with Palestine), but we’re not forcing all schools (to participate).
“We have to control this so it won’t be a problem,” Anwar told reporters after attending Friday prayers in Putrajaya today.
Earlier today, videos of schoolchildren and teachers carrying toy guns while clad in the Palestinian colours – red, white, green and black – and wearing keffiyeh scarves made the rounds on social media.
While it remains unclear which schools the programmes took place in, or if they are related to the Education Ministry’s Palestine Solidarity Week initiative, netizens have expressed concern over the videos.
A circular issued by the Education Ministry on October 21 declared October 29 to November 3 as Palestine Solidarity Week and directed all educational institutions under the ministry – including schools, vocational colleges, matriculation colleges and teacher’s training institutes in the country – to conduct the programme.
Yesterday, Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen said that Deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying had confirmed with him that Palestine Solidarity Week is not compulsory for schools and education institutes in Sarawak.
Mas Gading MP Mordi Bimol also said involving education institutions in the country with the Israel-Palestine war does not align with the Malaysia Madani vision established by Anwar.
Several academicians previously contacted by Scoop regarding the ministry’s move to initiate the solidarity programme expressed mixed responses over the decision.
Yesterday, the Education Ministry said the Palestine Solidarity Week was aimed at nurturing empathy and enlightening students who had been exposed to news on the humanitarian crisis resulting from the war waged by Israel on Palestine. – October 27, 2023