Sekolah Kebangsaan Methodist did not forbid its Muslim students from reciting their prayers contrary to claims, Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Sdr P. Ramasamy said today.
He also clarified that no religious prayers were said during the school’s Outstanding Students 2019 ceremony recently.
“There were no prayers during that event, neither Christian nor Muslim, there was only a unity speech,” he told a press conference at Penang Chief Minister Sdr Chow Kon Yeow’s office in Komtar here.
Sdr Ramasamy said the school board decided to have unity speeches on that day as it had noticed some subtle segregation among students of different races and religions at the school.
“The lack of mingling and subtle segregation among students of different races and religions has proved to be worrisome to the school officials, both to the management as well as the school board,” he said.
He said the school board decided to introduce unity speeches by Christians and Muslims during its event to promote unity.
In the September 27 event, a Christian member of the board gave a unity speech, while a Muslim member who was supposed to give a unity speech failed to do so as the person did not prepare it on time, he explained.
He said the unity speech by the Christian member had only called for understanding and cooperation in a multi-racial and multi-religious society like Malaysia.
“The programme as a whole was a success as the intention was to bring about some level of unity or togetherness among the young students of different races and religions,” he said.
Full news on Malay Mail: https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2019/10/02/penang-deputy-cm-clarifies-no-christian-prayers-at-mission-school-nor-ban-a/1796416
副首长拉玛否认教会学校进行基督祈祷仪式
槟州第二副首长拉玛沙米同志透露，槟城美以美女子中学董事部向其澄清，由于发现该校的各族学生之间缺乏交流，因此才会安排不同宗教代表发表团结演说，而非进行所谓的祈祷仪式。
他今天召开记者会表示，槟城美以美女子中学近期不止是面对基督教和伊斯兰学生祈祷的问题，各族学生之间也缺乏交往。
“近来，出现穆斯林学生只向穆斯林经营的档口买食物的趋势，但整个学校食堂的总承包商其实是个马来穆斯林，且都符合清真标准。”
不过，拉玛沙米同志在受询时，也不能确定此趋势是否受到“优先购买穆斯林产品”运动影响。
同时掌管教育事务的拉玛沙米同志指出，上述不同种族和宗教学生缺乏来往及隐晦性的隔离现象，引起了校方管理人员及董事部的担忧。
“为了克服此分隔状况，校方决定在今年做出改变，而为基督教徒及穆斯林举行一项团结演说。”
“2019年9月27日，董事部的一名基督教成员发表了团结演说，但另一名受委发表演说的穆斯林成员却没有这样做。”
“显然，负责准备演说的人赶不及做好准备。”
“结果，最终只有基督教代表发表了团结演说。而她呼吁，在类似马来西亚这种多元种族和宗教的社会中，促进彼此的了解和合作。”