THE Education Ministry is overreacting in its warning to the Penang Methodist Girls School for allegedly reciting a Christian prayer at a school event, civil society activist K. Sudhagaran Stanley said.

The Penang-based activist told Malaysiakini that Education director-general Amin Senin’s warning to the school based on a police report was “disrespect and a threat” to religious freedom in Malaysia.

The activist, who is the Penang coordinator for the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4), said the ministry should not allow itself to be used by “extremist or fanatical Muslim groups”.

“Amin should issue a public apology for over-reacting on the matter…(while) Education Minister Maszlee Malik (should) intervene and ensure his officers uphold the spirit of the new Malaysia,” Stanley was quoted as saying.

Amin two days ago said the ministry was considering taking disciplinary action against the school administrators for flouting protocol disseminated in a 2016 circular.

His statement followed news that a man claiming to represent Penang Muslim groups had filed a police report accusing the school of attempting to proselytise to its Muslim pupils through the recitation of a Christian prayer at an awards ceremony. 

Police are probing the incident following the report. – October 1, 2019.