KUCHING, Oct 27: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged schools to closely monitor all activities and events associated with Palestinian Solidarity Week in schools, in the wake of the circulation of images and videos of students carrying toy firearms that have gained widespread attention on social media.
Anwar emphasised that Cabinet members had previously addressed this issue during a meeting and are committed to taking the necessary measures to prevent these events from escalating or becoming problematic.
“We will not force any schools to participate in it but we must control what’s happening.
“We in the Cabinet spoke about it, it must be controlled so it doesn’t get out of hand,” he told reporters at the Ramli Corner Selera Kampong eatery in Dengkil, Selangor today as reported by various national news portals.
These news reports have highlighted photos of students and teachers brandishing toy firearms while carrying the Palestine flags and wearing the Palestinian keffiyeh scarves.
These images have sparked public backlash and are believed to have originated from at least one Special Education Integrated Programme (PPKI) school.
Additionally, screenshots from social media have shown schoolchildren in Klang wearing green bandanas with ‘Save Palestine’ inscribed on their foreheads as they wield toy guns.
Earlier today, it was reported that the Global Human Rights Federation (GHRF) has condemned these images, which it described “shocking and frightening”.
Its president S. Shashi Kumar has urged the government to immediately halt the programme.
Yesterday, the Ministry of Education (MOE) defended its decision to hold Palestine Solidarity Week across all educational institutions nationwide to impart humanitarian values, such as empathy and concern for the suffering of others, regardless of their background.
The Ministry views this as a necessary intervention to instill these values among students and aligns with the Malaysian government’s commitment to support the rights and freedom of the Palestinian people.
Criticism of MOE’s Palestine Solidarity Week has also come from 17 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Sarawak and Sabah and the Anglican Bishop for the Diocese of Kuching and Brunei Darussalam and Mission Schools president the Right Reverend Datuk Danald Jute.
Furthermore, Sarawak leaders and elected representatives from both political divides have also expressed their concerns about the programme. — DayakDaily
