The Malaysian Insight

PENANG Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy has weighed into the Christian prayer row, involving the Methodist Girls’ School (MGS) in George Town, saying it was only a speech on unity, which had been read out at a school event, and nothing more.

According to Ramasamy, who is in charge of the state education portfolio, he was informed by the school authorities that the unity speech was read out because there had been some racial issues in the school.

He also said the school board had decided against holding any prayers for the prize giving ceremony last week, which was held at the KDU campus next to the school.

“On that day, there had been no prayers citation at all. What they had was only a speech on unity which the school administration and board had planned.

“There were no prayers – not Christian prayers, not Muslim prayers – it was only a unity speech,” he said in a press conference today.

He said the school decided on the unity theme for the event because it wanted to improve ties between Muslim and non-Muslim students.

Two speeches were assigned to speakers: one to a Christian member of the school board and another to a Muslim member.

However, the Muslim member had not prepared a speech on time and only the speech by the Christian member was delivered, Ramasamy said.

The school has come under fire after a police report was lodged by a local man, Muhsin Abdul Latheef, 35, last Friday, claiming that Christian prayers were held during the event.

He accused the school of attempting to proselytise to Muslim pupils there, and in his police report, said there were 347 Muslim pupils and only 161 non-Muslims. He also said there were 26 Muslim teachers and 14 non-Muslim teachers.

The school is now in the limelight with a police investigation pending and a warning from the director-general of education.

Some Muslim parents have said they plan to transfer their children out of SK (P) Methodist next year.

Ramasamy added that the speech was given to strengthen the spirit of unity between students and parents.

“There were some issues of some Muslim students buying food only from Muslim food operators, and not from others,” he said, adding that a Muslim operated the school canteen.

“The lack of good ties between the Muslim and non-Muslim students had been worrying the school,” he said.

Ramasamy also urged the Education Ministry not to be hasty in punishing the school.

“The ministry says it will investigate the incident, but I hope that they will be careful.

“Don’t issue statements with haste, don’t punish the school before knowing the facts about what actually happened,” he said.

On Sunday, Education director-general Dr Amin Senin issued a press statement, reprimanding the school for flouting a circular on guidelines for mission schools.

He also said the ministry was considering disciplinary action against the school.

Police have started investigating the matter after 10 police reports were lodged against the school. – October 2, 2019.