THE Education Ministry “bullied” a Penang mission school by issuing a warning against it for allowing a Christian prayer to be recited during an awards event, said civil society group Pusat Komas today.

It said the ministry, under the leadership of Dr Maszlee Malik, displayed ignorance of the federal constitution, which grants citizens the right to profess and practice their religion.

“Claims that the recitation of prayers are attempts at proselytisation are shallow-minded and lack evidence.

“Pusat Komas feels that the ministry has shown it is ignorant of the federal constitution, and ‘bullied’ the mission school by flexing its muscle through the issuance of an unnecessary warning.”

The matter came to light on Friday, when a Penang-based activist lodged a police report over the Methodist Girls’ School in George Town allowing a Christian prayer to be recited at its awards ceremony.

Muhsin Abdul Latheef, 35, said it is akin to an attempt at proselytising the school’s Muslim students. Police have opened investigation papers, and will call up the complainant and school authorities for their statements.

The incident led to Director-General of Education Dr Amin Senin issuing a warning to the school, saying the ministry is considering disciplinary action against it for flouting guidelines on protocol as contained in a circular, which stipulates that Christian prayers can be recited only by students and teachers of the faith.

Pusat Komas said the Education Act does not have any prohibition on the recitation of prayers of faiths other than Islam.

“This begs the question: what were the grounds for the warning?”

Malaysians who studied in national schools or have attended official ceremonies are familiar with the recitation of Islamic prayers, but these have never been seen as an attempt at converting non-Muslims, it said. – October 1, 2019.