KUALA LUMPUR – Perikatan Nasional (PN) lawmakers have panned Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek (Nibong Tebal-PH) after they accused her of barring schools from allowing students to chant the takbir and recite ‘Qunut Nazilah’ prayers throughout the Palestine Solidarity Week programme.
PAS vice-president and Bagan Serai MP Datuk Idris Ahmad said the opposition was shocked by the guidelines on the do’s and don’ts issued by the ministry regarding the solidarity week, which has been the subject of much controversy lately.
“If the issue is seen as something sensitive, the matter (of chanting the takbir and reciting the qunut nazilah) has been accepted by non-Muslims in the country and is something that is commonly heard among the people.
“If we look at rallies (supporting Palestine) abroad which featured hundreds of thousands of participants from all races and religions, they also chant the takbir without any issue.”
In the Dewan Rakyat today, lawmakers from both sides of the political divide were told to refrain from “disturbing” the Education Ministry’s Palestine Solidarity Week programme, as teachers are the only ones who know how to properly implement such events in their respective schools.
A visibly distraught Fadhlina Sidek urged critics of the programme to give the ministry “space” to carry out its intentions in a way it deems fit.
Fadhlina, who was delivering her Budget 2024 winding-up speech in the lower house, was seen taking a few moments to compose herself before proceeding to address the matter, following a round of supposedly encouraging applause from MPs.
“This is not a question of who is the most (supportive) of Palestine or who will submit to superficial urges to choose between two humanities,” she said.
“The point of this programme is to educate our children on humanitarian and peaceful values. Give the ministry space to carry out our responsibilities while prioritising the process of instilling our children with such values.”
On Sunday, PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan expressed disdain over the choice of words used by 12 PKR lawmakers who called on the ministry to review its Palestine Solidarity Week programme.
He said the terms used by the lawmakers, such as “vendetta” or “violence,” when raising their concerns, could potentially downplay the seriousness of the Palestinian situation.
He also pointed out that the use of such language could lead to misunderstandings and might inadvertently align with the narrative of “dakyah” and Western media biases.
Additionally, he noted that the group of lawmakers raising concerns is not composed of Muslims.
Takiyuddin also called on the ministry to provide clear and detailed guidelines for Palestine Solidarity Week. He emphasised that PAS fully supports the ministry’s commitment to standing in solidarity with those who face persecution and the denial of legal rights, be it in Palestine, Myanmar, or any other region.
On Saturday, the 12 PKR lawmakers, including Gopeng MP Tan Kar Hing and Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung, raised their concerns about Palestine Solidarity Week, particularly in light of viral clips and photos showing school students with toy guns and teachers dressed as armed freedom fighters.
The lawmakers also called on the Education Ministry to take strict action against any parties that fail to adhere to the guidelines and incite violence through the use of toy weapons in schools.
During today’s press conference, Idris said that if Fadhlina is facing pressure on the issue from any quarters from her side of the political divide, the PN politicians are ready to stand behind her.
He added that he hoped that the Palestine Solidarity Week programme would not be politicised.
Idris also hoped that those who are concerned over the matter would respect Islam as the belief of the majority populace and as the religion of the federation.
“What is happening (opposition towards the takbir and Qunut Nazilah) is really saddening for us all.” – November 2, 2023