Gobind defends CNY decorations in school

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 8 Jan 2020 11:10AM · 4 Comments

A picture circulating on Facebook showing the Chinese New Year decorations put up at SM Pusat Bandar Puchong 1. – January 8, 2020.

THERE is nothing wrong in schools putting up decorations for cultural events, said Gobind Singh Deo in backing a secondary school in Puchong over the issue.

The communications and multimedia minister said SM Pusat Bandar Puchong 1 should not give in to demands from Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) for the decorations to be removed.

“It is common for decorations to be put up in celebration of a cultural event such as Chinese New Year. We are a multicultural society and we have been celebrating these events at a national level all these years.

“We need to respect each other and celebrate events like these together. I don’t see anything wrong with the decorations at all. They are not religious in nature and are not in celebration of any religious event.

“The concerns allegedly raised by Putra are therefore misplaced. I am of the view that the school should not have given in to the demands,” said the Puchong MP in a statement today.

He was referring to Putra vice-president and lawyer Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz who had yesterday threatened to report the school over the “religious” Chinese New Year decoration, which he said was “unconstitutional”.

He said Muslim parents had complained about the decorations, which they deemed as an attempt to propagate a religion to students of the school.

“The complaints we’ve received show unease at the excessive Chinese New Year 2020 decorations in your school. Some parents say the school looks like a Chinese-owned market with religious elements on display that are other than Islam.

“This is distressing for the Muslim students and is also against Article 3(1) of the Federal Constitution,” Khairul Azam had said in a letter sent to the school’s principal Rohani Mohd Nor and shared on his Twitter account.

Article 3(1) states that “Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation”. – January 8, 2020.

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Comments

  • What is wrong if School Children learn n understand All Multiracial Culture to Help Foster Good Relations n Mutual Respect. Why ALWAYS the Non Muslims must Respect Muslims and the Muslims REFUSE TO RESPECT THE NON MUSLIMS WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY Is it written in QURAN that Muslim can BULLY the Non Muslim.

    Posted 4 years ago by Lucky Boy · Reply

  • We should all celebrate our diversity together. There is strength for our nation when we do so. The opposite is undesirable.

    Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • We have a reputable , inclusive and intelligent public servant society including the teaching industry. Don't listen to bigot telling the teachers to divide and rule. This bigot just wanted to destroy our national harmony. This is a cultural event to show our diversity strength. Welcome all cultural events with big heart and praise so that together we build a great nation. Unity, inclusive, liberal , integrate and celebrate. Diversity utilized and exercised appropriately is of ernomous strength to the country.

    Posted 4 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • DAP need to continue its protection of the constituition role again. It cannot remain inclusive to PH government. Do not expect MCA to do that.

    Posted 4 years ago by S L · Reply