Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email The letter says it clearly:
The copy of letter was provided by Petaling Jaya City councillor A Thiruvenggadam, who is also the PKR PJ Selatan division vice-president. He said that he had followed Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim to the Highlands Tamil school in Klang last Sunday.
“As a local councillor, I am often approached by the PTA and school headmasters to help them out with problems related to the deteriorating school’s facilities.
“Now, the school officials have apologetically told me that they will not be able to invite me to their official functions. I do not mind helping the schools even if I am not invited because my motive is to serve the schools in need of repair.”
More info on the letter:
In an education department list on who can attend official events in all schools in the state, Pakatan Rakyat leaders names are glaringly missing.
The education department letter’s list was issued to all school headmasters in Selangor earlier this month.
The letter from the district education department instead stated that the education minister has appointed 73 Umno, MCA, MIC and Gerakan leaders who were sanctioned to attend official events in the state’s schools.
“Only these officials named in the attached list are allowed to attend official functions in the government schools in the state,” the letter dated March 11, 2009 stated.
Previously, all school heads were verbally told not invite Pakatan leaders for any official functions in schools.
In the recent parliamentary sitting, a government official denied that there was any directive barring elected leaders of the Pakatan state governments, said Petaling Jaya City councillor A Thiruvenggadam, who gave a copy of the letter to Malaysiakini.
Well, the issue could have been handled in a more statemanly manner, but unfortunately the schools have been turned into a political tool. The list could have just contained state education department officers names, instead of politicians. Obviously the minister has the right to appoint anyone, but doesn’t seem right.
The government official may also be punished for misleading the House.
The state leaders, hopefully will not use this reason as an excuse not to help the schools, especially the partially-aided ones. As it is, one HM (tamil school) said that PIBG are not allowed to collect fund from public for school events/infrastructure. So, he is at loss on how to go about doing improvement in the schools. Money from government sorely lacking, and not allowed to collect from public. Forced to fully depend on the “guardian of the indian community” party.
Note: this is a repost served from memory. Accidentally deleted the original post.
This is an example of the misuse of the press freedom to present lies as truths and by selective reporting.
First of all, the list of people who are allowed to attend are not political leaders from BN parties but members of Federal govt. Secondly, this letter talks about VIPs invited for officiating events and not about who attends these functions.
As for Petaling Jaya City councillor A Thiruvenggadam, he should have known that schools do not come under the juridictions of MPPJ and neither does MPPJ provides any assistance to them. So obviously he is lying about school coming to him for aid.
As for the Tamil school needing help, I am puzzled too as almost all schools long been collecting money from public. If I am not mistaken there are some restrictions apply to fully-aided schools on soliciting donations. But this is mainly to prevent abuses by HMs. But approvals can be sought from state education depts and if there is justification, the approval is given.
As for partially-aided or independent schools there is no restrictions at all. For fully aided Tamil schools that “sorely lacking in money”, i am sorry to say this but that is most likely to be a lie since funding never been a problem for them.
i agree with first point that the letter is about officiating. what is wrong with head of state administration officiating an event in school compared to some of the 73 in the list?
2. i don’t think the councillor said they approached him for help from mbbj. all councillors get an allocation for his/her area. if the school is in his/her area, they can find some way to help – not necessarily construction. can be school bags etc.
3. actually there is restriction it seems. just announced this year. i heard that vallikannu mentioned this in a meeting in selangor. also heard that came out in tamil papers, but i can’t find more info on it. note that i mentioned for partially-aided schools.