Is SUPP trying to promote politics into schools?

By Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen

I would like to question SUPP president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian and the party whether they are trying to bring in politics and silently promoting their political party into different schools here in Sarawak.

Dr Kelvin Yii, with  Pending YB Violet Yong (lefT) and former Batu Kawa YB Christian Chew showing newspaper cuttings of SUPP-organised activties

Schools are supposedly apolitical and it’s unethical for them to abuse their power to use school facilities for their self-interest. These facilities are meant for the usage of the students for educational purposes not political.

I first highlighted this issue after SUPP organised a supposed “Colouring Contest” at SJK(C) Chong Hua Batu 10 on the 19th February 2017.

Recently there were a few other events called BRAIN (Based Learning Memory Improvement N’Development) MIND program held at SMK Batu Kawah apparently held on  July 22 and 24.

On the banner of the event, the SUPP’s party logo as well as Barisan Nasional’s logo is clearly seen and promoted. During the event, the organisers and leaders from SUPP were even wearing their official SUPP Uniform.

This is typical of Barisan Nasional politicising educational matters even to the extent of bringing politics into primary schools. This is clearly against the understanding that there should not be a mix of politics in school as well any attempt to bring in any political influence into the premises of the school.

This is also against a circular ‘Surat Pekeliling Ikhtisas Bilangan 16/2000 by Director of Education Malaysia, where in subject 7(4) it clearly says that any speech or even activity within the premises of the school must be monitored not to contain any form of political promotion or connotation siding whichever side of the political divide (government or opposition)

We received multiple complaints from parents of the students who attended the event. They expressed their concerns regarding the usage of school facilities and their children for SUPP’s alleged political agenda.

This is clearly an abuse of power by Dr Sim and SUPP by using their position to bring in political influence and promote their party agenda in schools among young students.

They are the government of the day and they could have collaborated and gone under the Ministry of Education if they intend to do extra-cocurricular activities such as this, but purposely chose not to just to promote their own self-interest.

We encourage events which cultivates the creativity or our students as well as bring people of different races together, but schools and school students should not be used as any party’s political propaganda.

No political party logo including those of the ruling government should not be promoted in the premises of any school.

We will lodge an official complaint to Ministry of Education on the abuse of power as well on their attempts to promote party politics within the vicinity of a school.

I also believe it is important that SUPP explain its intentions to the public regarding this matter. I thus urge Dr Sim to explain their intention and stop any other attempts to silently infiltrate into schools to promote their political agenda.

Note: The writer is a special assistant to Bandar Kuching member of parliament Chong Chieng Jen