THE Education Ministry (MOE) must continue with the Palestine Solidarity Week despite pressure from various parties to cancel the programme, which starts today, Umno Supreme Council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi said.

He said the programme should not be cancelled just because a small group failed to comply with the ministry’s guidelines.

“It was clear that the incident where students carrying toy guns did not happen on the stipulated date of the programme from October 29 to November 3.

“MOE should not cancel the solidarity week just because of isolated incidents. There is no reason for any Malaysian not to participate and stand with Palestine when the whole world is condemning Israel’s atrocities,” said Puad.

The programme came into focus after pictures of students and teachers holding toy guns at a number of school events expressing support for the Palestinian people went viral.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in his reaction called for such programmes to be controlled so as not to cause any problems.

The ministry had then stressed that it did not tolerate programmes that were extreme, radical and promoted terrorism.

Several parties questioned the propriety of Palestinian solidarity programmes in schools, including Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin, who thinks schools should focus on education.

Former Penang deputy chief minister II P. Ramasamy reminded that such programmes are difficult to control.

In the meantime, DAP said the ministry must take disciplinary action against those involved in organising Palestinian solidarity programmes in schools that involved the use of toy weapons.

Twelve PKR elected representatives also called on the MOE to review its decision to hold the solidarity week in schools and public institutions.

In a joint statement, they said the decision should be reviewed so that schools and public institutions are free from elements of hatred and violence. – October 29, 2023.