GABUNGAN Parti Sarawak (GPS) lawmakers, considered “opposition lawmakers”, need not obtain approval from the state Education Department director before entering any schools, state Education Minister Micheal Manyin said today.

Federal Education Minister Mazlee Malik had recently issued a circular stating that the ruling that opposition lawmakers had to obtain approval from the state director before entering schools was still in force.

However, Manyin told The Malaysian Insight that acting state Education Department director Abang Mat Ali told him Sarawak was an exception to the rule. 

“I was informed that the Sarawak Education Department allows opposition lawmakers to enter schools on education business.”

Manyin said nonetheless, Sarawak ministers and GPS lawmakers were not too concerned over the ruling, reportedly a relic of the previous Barisan Nasional government, as “we are often invited to schools”.

“We rarely just walk in.”

Maszlee, in reply to a question from Sabri Azit (PAS-Jerai)  in Parliament on Monday, had said a circular had been issued that any request to enter schools must have the approval of the Education Ministry through its various state department directors.

The minister said “this applies to all opposition MPs”.

Some Sarawak Pakatan Harapan lawmakers have, however, opposed the directive. 

DAP’s Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii had said elected representatives should not be restricted from entering schools, whether they were from the opposition or government.

Yii had said it would only hinder them from serving their constituency or attending to the needs of schools in their area.

“A number of PH MPs, including myself, have expressed our reservations towards this circular and approached Maszlee Malik to reconsider it,” he had said. – November 21, 2018.