KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 — The Education Ministry will discuss with the Penang government before making any changes on the directive barring all schools in the state from joining any state-level National Day celebrations.
Its minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the ministry’s officials would meet the state government’s representatives to discuss on the matter soon.
“After that we will make a decision. So far the directive stays,” he said when opening the Kepong Umno Division delegates meeting here, today.
Recently, the ministry issued a directive banning all schools in Penang from participating in the National Day celebrations organised by the state government following the contradiction between the state government and the federal government’s National Day theme.
The DAP-led state government is using ‘Bersih, Cekap dan Amanah’ (Clean, Efficient and Trustworthy) while this year’s theme for the National Day celebrations decided by the federal government is ‘Sehati Sejiwa’ (One Heart, One Soul)
Earlier in his speech, Mahdzir said Umno must maintain its solidarity to ensure that Barisan Nasional (BN) remained as the ruling party.
He said Umno members should also avoid ‘politics of hatred’, which would trigger a split and would eventually lead to BN’s failure to retain votes in the next general election.
“I’m telling the truth, this has happened when Kedah fell to PAS because there was a movement, which sowed seeds of hatred against the government,” he said. — Bernama
