GEORGE TOWN, Aug 24 – Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said in the statement on Sunday about the Federal Government was unreasonable and bullying Penang State Assembly because Bersih was own theme of BN Government in 1980, with the “Clean, Efficient, Accountable” despite never troubled with different themes in Penang state government since 2010.
Both the new Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzhir Khalid and his deputy, Senator Datuk Chong Sin Woon must be condemned for reversing the education policy of the former Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin immediately upon assuming their new positions.
Firstly, Mahdzhir Khalid reiterated warnings that the directive bans schools from Penang to participate in the celebration of the 58th Independence Day organized by the state government will remain.
Madhzhir continuing education policy reversal Tan Sri Muhyiddin when he said that the Malaysian Examinations Council (MPM) to suspend the implementation of the mandatory requirement to pass English in Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) for teachers and students are not prepared.
The Ministry of Education has suspended the compulsory pass in English at SPM scheduled to take effect next year, the decision made by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in 2013. If the importance of English is not a concern, it will only further erode the competitiveness of the Malaysian economy in the global trading environment where English is the lingua franca of international business.
Improper political game at the expense of the competitiveness of our economy or school children innocent who is accustomed to take part in Independence Day celebrations every year. Penang State Department of Education has issued a circular directing all schools in the state not to participate in any celebration or parade of the 58th Merdeka because the state government has chosen the theme of Independence, “Clean, Efficient Trust” (BCA).
CM Lim said that his is definitely a change of approach towards Tan Sri Muhyiddin who had previously allowed the state government of Andhra Pradesh to choose the theme of their own free without any restrictions on children participating schools. He said Penang has its own independent theme since 2010 without any problems.
“In the same time, the Ministry of Education is trying to connect the words Clean with peaceful protests organized on 29-30 August in order to protest against corruption and RM2.6 billion recorded in the Prime Minister’s personal account. This is purely a political act immature trivial because the word “clean” was used in the BCA,” he said.
“Such a ban is illogical, irrational and irresponsible as BCA theme comes from the former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad when he first took office in 1981. The BCA is also widely used in government letterhead as a reminder to be clean and not corrupt. Maybe that’s why there is no contribution of RM2.6 billion recorded in personal accounts Mahathir,” said CM Lim.
CM Lim said the Federal Government has acted unreasonably and bullying Penang State Government for banning Bersih rally with its own theme BN government in the 1980s, namely “Clean, Efficient, Accountable” though never in trouble with different themes Penang state government since 2010.
He added that the students will be sacrificed of Penang which in vain and forbidden from taking part in the 58th Merdeka celebrations simply because the word was danger on “Clean, Efficient, Accountable” is now considered as a inappropriate for children.
