GEORGE TOWN, Aug 27 – The Penang Education Department told reporters after the launch of the 2015 Splendour of Independence event as well as the opening ceremony of Kidland Penang, here today about the withdrawn of the circular prohibiting to all schools in the Penang state to participate in the National Day celebration 2015 with parade that been organised by the Penang state government.
Penang Education Department director Datuk Osman Hussain said the withdrawal of the circular was done following the state government’s announcement which it would no longer use the theme ‘Bersih, Cekap, Amanah’ (Clean, Efficient, Trustworthy) and instead use ‘Sehati Sejiwa’ (One Heart, One Soul) that had been set by the federal government.
“The department had issued a letter of authorisation to all schools in the state on Tuesday (Aug 25) to allow them to participate in the celebration and parade organised by the state government. After the state government’s announcement on changing the theme on Monday (Aug 24), we also gave the permission,” he said.
Osman said a total of 28 schools in the state would be participating in the National Day parade organised by the state government this year. He said a briefing with the Penang State Secretary, Penang Education Department and schools involved with the National Day parade on Monday would be held this evening.
The state government withdrew its theme ‘Bersih, Cekap, Amanah’ for the state-level National Day celebration this year after the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) decided not to join the National Day Celebration 2015 in Penang on Aug 24. Besides that, the Communications and Multimedia Ministry had also chosen the theme ‘Sehati Sejiwa’ for this year’s National Day celebration in June.
