Here's the latest on the issue, courtesy of Malaysiakini-the online news portal with all the good, bad and ugly facts.
'Remove crucifixes' MP explains himself
Yoges Palaniappan
Dec 4, 07 4:33pm
The Barisan Nasional MP who suggested that crucifixes be removed from mission schools today explained that he was merely raising public concern.
Syed Hood Syed Edros (BN-Parit Sulong) told reporters in Parliament that he raised the issue in the Dewan Rakyat in order to get clarification from the Education Ministry.
On Oct 29, Syed Hood and Mohamad Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) suggested that crucifixes in mission schools be removed and church influence over these schools be stopped.
Syed Hood told the Dewan Rakyat that he believes that the school board in mission schools are partially administered by foreign churches, for example the Vatican City in Italy.
He said he was "ashamed and disappointed" that schools in an Islamic country like Malaysia are still under the control of churches and that they display icons like crosses and statues.
However, he told reporters today that he did not raise the issue in bad faith but had merely raised the “grouses of the public”.
"As the people's representative, I hear complaints and laments from the public. And every complaint must be given a proper explanation," he said, adding that PAS would play up the issue if no proper explanation was given.
Thanking mission schools for providing education to Malaysians in the early years, Syed Hood said: "Then, Malay parents didn't send their children to mission schools. But now that the country has developed, we have many of them doing so and we need to explain to them when they have doubts."
Explaining that Deputy Education Minister Noh Omar's reply in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday had clarified the matter, Syed Hood said: "The clarification would provide much relief to the people of all races."
Respect for religion
Syed Hood said the issue was played up in emails and blog-posts by those "who did not understand his intention".
"What I said in the Dewan does not reflect Syed Hood the MP. I, as an individual and politician, always respect other races and religions.
"I personally don't have any issue with crosses being displayed in mission schools. We have to respect the religion of others to gain their respect for our religion."
He said his eldest child had attended SMK Convent Batu Pahat when his family lived in the town.
Asked to comment on Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz's statement that action would be taken against him if a police report is lodged regarding his remarks, Syed Hood said: "We have to hope for the best and prepare for the worst."
He also said that, in life, one has to make mistakes and learn from these, and if he has made one, then it can still be rectified.
'Hisham must explain'
However, Nazri reiterated today that no action would be taken against Syed Hood unless there is a complaint from other MPs.
"I am the (BN) deputy whip. I have to wait for other members to complain," he told reporters today.
Parliamentary Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang, at a press conference, urged Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to explain if it is true that crucifixes in mission school emblems have been removed and replaced.
"I call on Hishammuddin to explain how many mission schools in the country have replaced the cross in the school emblem, together with a full list of the schools concerned and the relevant particulars on the year of removal and why," he said.
He also explained that he had received complaints in his blog about several mission schools where the crucifixes on their emblems have been replaced.
"Among the schools are St David High School, Malacca (crucifix replaced with a crown), Convent Girls School, Muar (crucifix replaced with a crescent moon), and Methodist Boys Secondary School, Kuala Lumpur," he said.
Showing posts with label crucifixes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crucifixes. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
The Best Bigot Awards
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I was just preparing The Best Bigot Awards for the two Members of Parliament Syed Hood Syed Edros, M.P. for Parit Sulong (left) and Mohammad Aziz, M.P. for Sri Gading (right)who raised the sensitive religious issue in parliament recently of the placement of crucifixes in mission schools and the influence of the Church. However, it seems that sometimes the evil that men do will have a positive outcome.
The defacto law minister Nazri has denounced the matter of touching the issue following, justifiably, the public outcry over the cheap remarks by the two ignorant parliamentarians.
This brings up the question as to who is responsible for what is happening in the mission schools these days.
It has now come to Malaysians' attention that there are some fishy things going on quietly in the mission schools in West Malaysia such as the enforced decision to get them to remove these symbols.
Interestingly, there is a growing placement of Malay students in mission schools, even in East Malaysia. Many other non-Malays attempt to unsuccessfully enroll to study in these schools as well. Yet, despite this complimentary-perhaps- fact, Malaysian mission schools with the grace of Christ still produce outstanding results, despite the attractions or as some see it, enticements to other special institutions of some of the brightest students by the government...
So after years of Merdeka (Independence) and tolerance of many people and many things... today, the world will see that there are bigots in Malaysian society who are increasingly stripping the values of the Rukun Negara (Constitutional Beliefs) away.
If the Ministry of Education is implicated it must explain itself. If the Minister himself is implicated, as a gentleman, do something truly honorable for once. Maybe he ought to apologise or even resign.
If the ministry doesn't explain itself satisfactorily, it will prove to many that there is a sinister conspiratorial clandestine motive in whatever the government is doing these days in advancing an Islamic agenda in Malaysian society. It will only be seen as undermining the peaceful religions of others.
In fact, it can be so obviously blatantly seen and heard over the airwaves with breaking round the clock religious messages to everyone, particularly youngsters who listen to the radio for modern music and news . It has never been like this in the past since Independence, and yet slowly but surely, there are attempts to brainwash other Malaysians by questionable subtle means.
It is therefore possible that a positive outcome will be the result of the opening of the mini Malaysian Pandora's box by some UMNO bigots.
I hopefully pray so.
Come to think of it, I won't award them the awards of bigotry because they have galvanised Malaysians to speak out. Indeed, it has gotten many Malaysians to speak out, more than some of the elected representatives who lack guts. Just read the comments in the hugely popular Zorro Unmasked blog. It's increasingly more of a reason for me to cast my vote for the Opposition in the coming election.
I was just preparing The Best Bigot Awards for the two Members of Parliament Syed Hood Syed Edros, M.P. for Parit Sulong (left) and Mohammad Aziz, M.P. for Sri Gading (right)who raised the sensitive religious issue in parliament recently of the placement of crucifixes in mission schools and the influence of the Church. However, it seems that sometimes the evil that men do will have a positive outcome.
The defacto law minister Nazri has denounced the matter of touching the issue following, justifiably, the public outcry over the cheap remarks by the two ignorant parliamentarians.
This brings up the question as to who is responsible for what is happening in the mission schools these days.
It has now come to Malaysians' attention that there are some fishy things going on quietly in the mission schools in West Malaysia such as the enforced decision to get them to remove these symbols.
Interestingly, there is a growing placement of Malay students in mission schools, even in East Malaysia. Many other non-Malays attempt to unsuccessfully enroll to study in these schools as well. Yet, despite this complimentary-perhaps- fact, Malaysian mission schools with the grace of Christ still produce outstanding results, despite the attractions or as some see it, enticements to other special institutions of some of the brightest students by the government...
So after years of Merdeka (Independence) and tolerance of many people and many things... today, the world will see that there are bigots in Malaysian society who are increasingly stripping the values of the Rukun Negara (Constitutional Beliefs) away.
If the Ministry of Education is implicated it must explain itself. If the Minister himself is implicated, as a gentleman, do something truly honorable for once. Maybe he ought to apologise or even resign.
If the ministry doesn't explain itself satisfactorily, it will prove to many that there is a sinister conspiratorial clandestine motive in whatever the government is doing these days in advancing an Islamic agenda in Malaysian society. It will only be seen as undermining the peaceful religions of others.
In fact, it can be so obviously blatantly seen and heard over the airwaves with breaking round the clock religious messages to everyone, particularly youngsters who listen to the radio for modern music and news . It has never been like this in the past since Independence, and yet slowly but surely, there are attempts to brainwash other Malaysians by questionable subtle means.
It is therefore possible that a positive outcome will be the result of the opening of the mini Malaysian Pandora's box by some UMNO bigots.
I hopefully pray so.
Come to think of it, I won't award them the awards of bigotry because they have galvanised Malaysians to speak out. Indeed, it has gotten many Malaysians to speak out, more than some of the elected representatives who lack guts. Just read the comments in the hugely popular Zorro Unmasked blog. It's increasingly more of a reason for me to cast my vote for the Opposition in the coming election.
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