DAP today said schools were being turned into “indoctrination camps” after a primary school in Putrajaya had the pupils wave the Umno flag and sing the party song during a visit from an Umno minister yesterday.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the teachers who had taught the children to put on such acts of partisanship should come right out and say they were politicians.

“This is brainwashing the children, having them sing the Umno song, shout the party slogan, and wave the Umno flag.

“This is misusing power, funds, and institutions for political purposes. This is a political campaign involving primary school pupils. They are turning schools into indoctrination camps,” Lim, who is the Penang chief minister, said today.

Lim said the incident had “defiled the country’s education system”, urging the Education Department to stop “the politicising of education” in school and to take action against the headmaster.

“How can teachers take politics into the school and classroom? It is wrong. 

“This requires serious action from the authorities…We never saw such incidents before. This only happens in places like North Korea. Maybe that is the direction in which we are heading.

“There was no shame at all; (it was) as if a public institution can be used for personal and political interests,” he said.

Lim was commenting on a video clip showing Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor visiting a primary school in Precinct 14, Putrajaya yesterday.

He is seen touring the school while the pupils sing the Umno song and wave the party flag. Tengku Adnan also hands out prizes for a competition called “Umno and Independence”.

Lim said the welcome Tengku Adnan was given at the school starkly contrasted with the reception Lim received at a Chinese primary school in Sungai Lembu, Penanti in late August.

Lim, who had funds to present to the school, was invited by the school board of directors to visit on a Saturday, when there were no teachers and pupils around. Upon arrival, he was barred from entering the school premises. His office was later told that permission must be obtained from the Education Minister for any chief minister or menteri besar to visit a school.

“When we visit schools, it is to see if they need funds. Such double standards,” he said.

During his visit to the Putrajaya school, Tengku Adnan was reported to have invited teachers to join Umno and contest for party positions.

Chief Secretary to the Government Ali Hamsa said today he did not have a problem with teachers, who were civil servants, joining Umno. – October 4, 2017.