KOTA KINABALU, Dec 1 — Shocked to learn of allegations that a school in the Sabah’s interior has banned its Christian students from wearing the crucifix, the state’s Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Youth win demanded today for an immediate investigation into the matter.
In a statement, Sabah BN Youth chief Yamani Hafez Musa said the ban violates the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement, and added that if found to be true, the relevant authorities must be brought to book.
“Stern action needs to be taken against the school or teacher(s) if it is proven true, as it is not only going against the Constitution and Malaysia Agreement, on the freedom of religion, but have also caused much unnecessary anxiety among the multiracial and multireligious communites in the State,” he said.
He said it is very sad and unacceptable that a school in Sabah could come up with such a guideline, which he said goes against the Education Ministry’s policy and law.
“It is a surprise to us all in the state which is known for its people who have great tolerance, understanding and respect to each other’s religious belief, which is the very reason for peaceful and harmony that we are enjoying right now… this needs to be checked and stopped,” he said.
He said that the state Education Department and Education Ministry should launch a full probe into the matter and make sure that the school involved, as well as the others that also enforcing such guidelines, would take it off their respective list of guidelines as it disturbed the sensitivity of the people.
Hafiz, who is also Sabah Umno Youth Chief, said schools should be a respectable institution for children to learn about and respect other religions and races, as they are to the potential future leaders of the nation.
Earlier today, a local Sabah daily, The Daily Express reported that Sekolah Menengah Ken Wah in Keningau had to get written permission from the school’s disciplinary board if they wished to wear the crucifix — the image of Jesus Christ on a cross — to school.
Failure to do so could result in caning or eventual suspension.
According to a senior teacher, the regulation, alleged enforced since 2009, came under Kebersihan Diri (personal cleanliness) and stated that students are not allowed to wear jewellery and ‘tanda keagamaan’ (religious symbols such as the crucifix for Christians especially).
Students who are permitted to wear the item will be issued with approval passes that must be carried daily within the school.
“We don’t want the students to abuse this privilege by wearing jewellery to school instead of the religious symbols,” she said, claiming that the school regulation is in line with the guidelines issued by the Education Ministry.
The school’s principal, Chong Nyuk Chin had he would lodge a police report on the article, without elaborating further.
State Education director Datuk Jame Alip when contacted by the Malay Mail Online, said he was still investigating the report and will issue a statement when ready.
The issue came to light when a father of a pupil recently enrolled in the school attended a briefing and was taken aback with the regulation, questioning the religious intolerance of the school.
