The Malaysian Insight

THE media should not sensationalise “negative news”, such as the separate canteens at a Malacca school issue, said Education Minister Mazlee Malik.

Instead, the media should highlight the fact that most schools practice fair policies.

On The Malaysian Insight’s recent report highlighting the Malacca school’s policy of having separate cooking and dining areas for Muslims and non-Muslims, Maszlee said the focus should be on the fact that the majority of public schools in Malaysia only have one canteen.

“We have many mission schools and vernacular schools, and when they are not facing any issues, we have to promote the fact they have no problems with unity,” he said at the Parliament lobby today.

“In writing media reports, don’t sensationalise the negative just for the sake of it; this is only one (case).

“A thousand others are good, (so) highlight those cases to serve as examples.”

The Malaysian Insight’s report, however, while highlighting the issue at SMK St Francis in Malacca, also mentions that it is one of at least four other mission schools and a handful of vernacular schools in the state that have a secondary canteen specially for Muslim pupils and staff.

Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong confirmed that more than one school in the state had two canteens, when, responding to the report, said there was “nothing wrong” with the practice as it was done out of respect for Muslims. – November 26, 2018.