The Controversial Deepavali Ad by FINAS

/* November 9th, 2010 by poobalan | View blog reactions 9 comments »
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Here’s the ad. Have a look and share your thoughts.

Basically the ad is about a Hindu guy who marries a Muslim. The pregnant wife is seen singing Tamil song while cooking muruku (symbolising her acceptance of some of the Indian-Tamil aspects) and later the couple is invited to celebrate Deepavali with the husband’s family.

At the grandmother’s house, the husband’s father and grandma are comfortable with the couple (symbolising that older generation are more forgiving and tolerant?) while the the husband’s siblings ignore the couple (symbolising that younger generation is more intolerant, narrow-minded, ignorant?).

The muslim wife is seen not partaking in the lunch because worried about the food being served. However, a malay neighbor drops by and informs the wife that the food was prepared by her (the malay neighbor) and its safe to eat (here, the muslim is seen worried about halalness of the food).

After the meal, the wife gets labor pain and we see everyone rushing to help her (symbolising that in times of need, the younger and older generation will help regardless of religion, race?).

Finally, the scene cuts to a hospital where everyone is in a joyful mood  due to the first grandchildren (twins) being born to the family. Here the meaning may be that our differences (race/religion) can be overcome/forgotten when there’s good thing happening.

The ad can be easily misinterpreted to convey the message that converting is acceptable and the families of the convert will accept the convert. Indirectly, some feels its subtly (or subconsciously) promotes conversion to Islam among Hindus.

The ad doesn’t show any signs that husband has converted (he eats the food without thinking about the halalness nor does he advice his wife to eat), thus giving false impression that he is still a Hindu, but its a known fact that once you want to  marry a Muslim, you must convert.

The ad also tells us that we should get a muslim to prepare the food for Deepavali because to cater for muslim. Well, sorry to say, its our open house and we will serve it any which way we like it. We can’t guarantee that the Muslim won’t use same utensils used to cook non-halal item like beef when preparing food for Deepavali. All my life, never did I see food prepared specially for Muslims for Deepavali (not including the Deepavali open house by politicians). I think this is a bad precedent to set.

While the ad doesn’t insult Hinduism (to me), i’ll say its an ad to promote conversion to Islam rather than a Deepavali ad. Its telling “OK to convert because everything will be OK in the end”. Unfortunately, we are leaving in an unequal state, thus we have lesser rights and depend a lot on the interpretation of the authorities on the “rights”.  So, I expect nothing to change after this.

Some, like Senator Ramakrishnan questioned the ad, saying its belittling the holy festival. He also questioned why not show a reverse scenario where a person converts from Islam to Hinduism. But I think they forgot that’s a no-no in a unequal-rights country. Silap silap, get caught under ISA!

Finas on their behalf said there’s nothing wrong with the ad:

The Deepavali commercial by the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) has nothing to do with religious conversions and it should not be taken out of context in the way it was conceived and acted out in the commercial.

Finas director-general Mohd Mahyidin Mustakim (right) said that the commercial was aimed at promoting 1Malaysia in the spirit of various races and families celebrating the different Malaysian festivals. 

“This commercial is a follow-up to the commercial we had during Hari Raya when Muthu marries the Sarawakian, Rina.

“So we are portraying how Malaysians of different races celebrate their festivals and we will also have another follow-up during Christmas and Chinese New Year.

“This is a work of creativity and should not be mixed with politics. 

“The advertisement was certainly not conceived to put down any race and the idea of conversions was not on our minds at all.”

Mahyidin was responding to senator S Ramakrishnan who had questioned the message the commercial’s producers were trying to put across.

The storyline, he added was similar to a Bollywood drama where there is conflict in the beginning and eventually it all ends well with a happy ending. When the commercial ends it shows a positive and happy mood among the two families. 

The 30-second film – said to have appeared on RTM and Astro – shows how a male member of a Hindu family faces reluctance on the part of his siblings to accept his marriage to a Muslim girl. 

The Muslim girl, on her part, shows reluctance to partake of the meals prepared by her in-laws. She concedes, however, after being assured the food is halal by a friend of the family.

It is only after the Muslim girl has given birth that her in-laws warm up to the fact of their marriage and display affection toward the new-born child. 

Ramakrishnan noted that the Finas advertisement showed the hostility of the Hindu family while neglecting to address the compulsion on non-Muslims to convert before marrying Muslims.

Mahyidin said the advertisement was actually projecting tolerance and caring feelings among the different races. It demonstrates the various races showing respect for one another even when food is served and this is visible in the way the halal food is prepared for the visitors.

Hindu Sangam just issued statement protesting the ad:

Hindu Sangam has called a recent television advertisement on Deepavali insensitive and is meeting Finas officials tonight to protest its screening.

The advertisement, produced by Finas, or the National Film Development Corporation, and aired in conjunction with Deepavali, has provoked protests from Hindu politicians and community leaders.

They are unhappy with what they say is the insensitive undertones portrayed in the advertisement.

In the commercial, a Muslim convert and his pregnant Muslim Sarawakian wife visit his Hindu family members for Deepavali. They are treated with hostility by the man’s brother and sister-in-law.

At lunch, the man’s wife is hesitant to eat the food until a Malay guest assures her that it is halal.

The advertisement however ends on a joyous note with the wife giving birth to twins.

“I find this advertisement insensitive. Even some of my Malay friends are unhappy with it,” Hindu Sangam central council member Shanta Venugopal said.

She said the advertisement in no way portrays the spirit of 1 Malaysia, adding that instead an advertisement showing all the races enjoying a Deepavali meal would have served the purpose.

DAP’s Senator S. Ramakrishnan said: “This advertisement was done in bad faith. It has a subtle message underlying it.”

Calling it a mockery of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1 Malaysia concept, Ramakrishnan told The Malaysian Insider that the repeated airing of the commercial could “subtly influence gullible and innocent people. They will be more accepting of Hindus converting to Islam. And why are they playing this advertisement during Deepavali?”

“The advertisement seems to be leading the community in one direction. Why does it have to be a Hindu converting to Islam? Why can’t it be the other way around?” Ramakrishnan asked.

Hindu Sangam deputy president Dr M Bala Tharumalingam said 45 Hindu NGOs, including the Hindu Sevai Sangam and the Hindu Youth Organisation, would be attending the meeting at its Petaling Jaya headquarters.

For me, say no to “conversion without proper counseling and information”. Counseling here means the convert-to-be should be counselled by his/her current religion officials/authority to ensure he/she is clear on leaving current religion. Information means the next of kin is made aware of the conversion plan BEFORE converting. Can or not? 🙂

Note: Still waiting for self-proclaimed guardians of Indian community to open mouth. Maybe to tired from all the deepavali open houses.

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Posted in BornInMalaysia, Indian, Religion

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Deepavali Valthugal!

/* November 5th, 2010 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments »
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Deepavali Valthugal to those celebrating this holy festival! May there be bountiful joy, prosperity, peace, enlightment, Almighty’s blessings, n good thoughts all around.

I wish poobalan.com’s readers, Twitter followers, and FB friends a wonderful weekend ahead.

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Inter-faith and inter-racial relationship is NOT easy!

/* November 2nd, 2010 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments »
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I read the coverage of the final hearing for Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) draft plan as reported by The Star below, and could only shake my head in wonder. There’s so many complications and factors involved in deciding things like location of places of worship , crematorium and cemeteries, and schools. Have to consider the feelings of the various stakeholders, and the “relative” rights of individual (we live in an unequal rights country).

Its well-known that approval for non-Muslim place of worships is rarely given, thus some of them are located in shoplots and houses (can easily find many churches in my area).  Even the statistics are not proven to be correct, and often misused to say that there’s too many temples for population ratio. I think the government should fund an study to count the number of places of worship in the country. Can arrange for some research company to do it, and overseen by relevant ministries, respective state/district authorities and NGOs.

Another problem is cemetery. No one wants a cemetery next to their house (I think even mentioned in Hinduism scriptures to built house away from cemetery and crematorium) as it brings a negative conotation and usually leads to lower property value. Problem is, the people also want to have a burial place/crematorioum “nearby” for convenience, but as long as not “too near”. Its not easy to find such “ideal” location that can please everyone, but the effort must be undertaken. Let more public participation to take place so that can brainstorm better suggestions. Maybe MPAJ (or other authorities as well) can’t solve every problem because they are not smart enough or lack manpower.

Same goes for school relocation. If the majority population in an area is Chinese or Indian (or even if not majority,  25% and above will do), then should allocate enough space for both national school and vernacular school. If not, how to relocate schools from rural/underutilised areas? You can’t expect many sizeable areas to be 70-80% population by Chinese or Indian community, and then only want to relocate schools there.

THE Buddhist and Christian communities in Ampang are worried over the lack of space to build temples and churches following the final hearing for the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) draft plan yesterday.

Selangor Buddhist Development Committee (SBDC) secretary Chua Teck Seong said the Selangor Planning Guidelines and Standards from the Town and Country Planning Department, released in June 2006, stated that for non-Muslims, there should be a place of worship for every 2,600 devotees or 5,000 residents.

“Taking the figures from the 2000 census carried out by the National Statistics Department, there are 160,748 Buddhists in Ampang and therefore there should be 62 temples here,” he said.

He pointed out that there were only three sites in Ampang allocated in the draft plan for non-Muslims’ places of worship.

Another religion-based issue discussed at the hearing was Charis Christian Association spokesman Chok Poi Fong’s request for a Christian crematorium in Ampang.

Making his point: Ee speaking at the hearing as Lee (seated right) looks on.

“The nearest one is in Cheras and there is one in Petaling Jaya and Seremban respectively. Not only is the one in Cheras far away but it often breaks down and has a long wait-list,” Chok said during the hearing, adding that the crematorium could be shared by churches in the area.

State Housing, Building Management and Squatters Committee chairman Iskandar Abdul Samad, who chaired the hearing, said there was a discrepancy in the statistics provided by the religious groups who attended the hearing.

“For instance, we have been told at the hearing by SBDC that there are fewer than 10 temples in Ampang, but we know of two registered ones and another 24 which operate in homes and shoplots,” he said.

He said that according to state records, there were 10 Hindu temples, two Gurdwaras and 22 churces in Ampang.

“The state Town and Country Planning Department will have to meet with these groups and figure out these discrepancies,” he said.

Another issue heard was the proposal to allocate land for a Muslim cemetery in Taman Bukit Permai 2 that was met with both objections and support from the residents who turned up.

Pangsapuri Anggerik Joint Management Body (JMB) chairman A. Karim Mohd Esin said there was a critical need for a Muslim cemetery in Ampang.

“We support the gazetting of the land which is just next to our apartment and separated by a ditch.

“However, we would like to suggest that the community hall that will be built in the buffer zone to also have a surau and a funeral parlour,” he said.

Opposing the cemetery plan was resident Julia Long, 48, who said that it was unfair to the residents who had been living there since 2000 to have to put up with a cemetery beside their homes.

“When we bought our houses, the master plan indicated that the land next to our area was a forest reserve. I would prefer it to remain as such,” she said.

She added that bulldozers and excavators had tried to level the forest in 2008 without residents’ knowledge and it was only stopped after the latter appealed to MPAJ.

“A cemetery will mean increase in traffic in the area, she said, adding that she did not want any kind of development taking place at the site.

Another resident, Sara Chan, 44, said she would approve of the building community facilities like playgrounds at the site.

“Our property value will drop if a cemetery is built and I do not think that is right,” Chan added.

Another hot topic at the hearing was the issue of primary vernacular schools.

“We have received objections from five residents of Bukit Indah who do not want SJK (T) Ampang to be relocated to their area.

“We have also received petitions from residents who want part of a land to be used for a national school in Taman Saga to be given to the building of a Tamil vernacular school,” said Iskandar.

Taman Pandan Glades Residents’ Association chairman Terence Ee and Teratai assemblyman Jenice Lee voiced their support for the construction of a vernacular Chinese primary school in the open space along Jalan Perdana 6/2 in Pandan Perdana.

“I believe only a portion of the 2.45ha land is needed for such a school. The rest can still remain as an open space,” said Lee.

Iskandar said that the hearing, the last of four held for the MPAJ draft plan, was very good as residents came armed with facts and relevant arguments.

“All the information, suggestions and objections we have heard will be discussed at the State Planning Committee along with experts in December,” he said.

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Deepavali Photowalk in Tengku Kelana Klang

/* October 31st, 2010 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments »
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Attended Lolgraphy’s Deepavali Photowalk on Saturday morning. Was a bit late, but those guys started late too :-). This time, it was an all-guys team consisting of Selian, Kavilan, Raaja, Saravanan and Puvanan.

Had breakfast at the bak kut teh shop near the end of the bridge before joining up with them near the flower stalls in Tengku Kelana.

Since its was a cloudy morning, there were less crowd and the not enough color around. Ended up taking more shots of the blue mosque and the mosque across the river.

We spent about 2 hours only so, not much pics.

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Many Schools Missing!

/* October 29th, 2010 by poobalan | View blog reactions 1 comment »
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We need to bring in the big guns! We have lots of schools missing. Disappeared from the face of the earth (in Malaysia la). May need to seek help of bomohs too.

The statistics clearly show number of Chinese and Tamil schools has been reduced but the Deputy Minister said no schools was closed down and he didn’t really answer the question asked.  From more than 880 Tamil schools in 1957, now left with 523 only.

Dewan Rakyat this morning became heated up during question time, after a query by Nga Kor Ming (DAP – Taiping) on Chinese schools raised the ire of Barisan Nasional MPs.

Nga, during his supplementary question to Deputy Education Minister Dr Puad Zarkashi, questioned why the government had closed many Chinese and Tamil language schools in the country.

“Firstly, I’d like to congratulate the country for establishing 2,637 national schools from the years 1948 to 2000,” said Nga.

“At the same time, I express my sadness knowing that 48 Chinese medium schools had been shut down. The same thing is also happening at Tamil schools.”

At this point, Datuk Seri Jamaluddin Jarjis (BN – Rompin) stood up to interject, accusing Nga of uttering seditious remarks.

Read the hansard below (comments in red are interesting indeed!). Full hansard for 27th October 2010 is available on parliament website here [pdf file]. If schools were not closed down where did they go? How can number of schools reduced? Were they allowed to “die a natural death”?  Do we need Fox and Mulder to investigate?

Most funny is the questions/comments by Jamaludin Jarjis.

4. Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping] minta Menteri Pelajaran menyatakan secara terperinci satu demi satu status terkini pembinaan 19 buah sekolah jenis kebangsaan SJK(C) yang diumum serta dijanjikan oleh kerajaan pada 31 Januari 2008 serta kos terlibat dalam menyiapkan sekolah-sekolah tersebut.
Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran II [Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad bin Zarkashi]: Assalamualaikum warahmatullaahi wabarakaatuh dan salam 1Malaysia. Tuan Yang di-Pertua, Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia sentiasa berusaha meningkatkan pembangunan pendidikan dalam memastikan pembangunan modal insan lebih berkesan tanpa mengamalkan diskriminasi ke atas mana-mana sekolah yang terdapat dalam sistem pendidikan kebangsaan. Untuk makluman Ahli Yang Berhormat, proses perpindahan dua buah SJK(C) telah siap dan mula beroperasi pada tahun ini iaitu SJK(C) Tai Hong, berpindah dari Kota Tinggi ke Taman Impian Emas, Johor Bahru dan SJK(C) Pai Tze dari Bukit Serampang ke Setia Eco Gardens, Johor Bahru.
Manakala perpindahan lima sekolah lagi telah mendapat kelulusan pihak berkuasa tempatan dan dalam proses pembinaan sekarang ini iaitu SJK(C) Bandar Bukit Tangga – Bukit Beruntung, Selangor – RM3 juta. SJK(C) Pay Fong 1 –
Crimson, Krubong, Melaka juga RM3 juta. SJK(C) Pun Pong – Alor Setar, Kedah – RM3 juta. SJK(C) Tung Hwa – RM3.8 juta iaitu Seremban dan SJK(C) Kiow Min – Taman Perkasa, Alor Gajah, Melaka sebanyak RM2.3 juta. Dua lagi baru selesai isu tapak iaitu SJK(C) Wu Tek – Bandar Pak Len, Kelang, Selangor. Yang kedua ialah SJK(C) Pai Chee – Bandar Jasa Cemerlang, Johor.
Untuk makluman Ahli Yang Berhormat, untuk sekolah baru daripada enam yang dicadangkan, baru satu telah selesai perolehan tapak iaitu SJK(C) Emerald – Rawang. Tapak adalah ihsan daripada pihak pemaju bernilai RM3.5 juta. Manakala selebihnya, pihak Lembaga Pengelola Sekolah (LPS) dalam proses membuat perolehan tanah, penyediaan pelan bangunan atau mengemukakan permohonan kebenaran merancang untuk kelulusan oleh pihak berkuasa tempatan. Keseluruhan peruntukan yang disediakan untuk semua sekolah tersebut termasuk yang dijanjikan ialah RM95 juta. Terima kasih.
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua dan terima kasih jawapan dari Timbalan Menteri. Pendidikan adalah teras pembangunan negara. Mengikut statistik yang saya ada, saya mengucapkan tahniah kepada kerajaan kerana berjaya membina 2,637 buah sekolah kebangsaan sepanjang tempoh dari tahun 1948 hingga tahun 2000. Walau bagaimanapun, saya berasa amat sedih dan kesal, pada tempoh yang sama sejumlah 49 buah sekolah jenis kebangsaan Cina telah ditutup. Ini sama juga berlaku kepada sekolah jenis kebangsaan Tamil, tutup. Memang jumlah bilangan sekolah telah berkurangan. Tadi wakil kerajaan telah memberikan jawapan…
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: Saya hendak minta, Tuan Yang di-Pertua, 36(6). Ini kenyataan benarkah kita tutup sekolah Cina ni?
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Ini sekarang floor saya.
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: Your floor, but you are seditious, how can you tuduh tidak betul.
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: What seditious?
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: Ini you kata tutup sekolah mana? Mana ada kita tutup sekolah Cina.
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Ini saya cadangkan..
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Tidak apa Yang Berhormat Rompin, biar Menteri yang jawab nanti.
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Jumlah bilangan sekolah yang… ini Duta Amerika, balik Amerika Syarikatlah. Jangan buang masa masuk Dewan.
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: Betulkah sekolah Cina ditutup supaya kita menang dalam pilihan raya?
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Belum saya habis pertanyaan, buat apa kacau dalam Dewan ini? Balik Amerikalah, jadi Duta Amerika, mengapa duduk sini?
[Dewan riuh]
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: Ini hak saya, ini hak saya, saya ada hak saya.
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Dia tidak tahu, sebab itu jangan putar belit, jangan putar belit. [Dewan riuh]
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat, Yang Berhormat Taiping.
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: Apa cakap macam ini?
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Ikut peraturan mesyuarat. Saya belum habis.
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Duduk dulu Yang Berhormat Taiping. Itu sebabnya Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat, saya sering kali mengingatkan bahawa apabila berhujah, kalau boleh elakkan menggunakan perkataan-perkataan yang mengundang reaksi negatif dari sebelah, fasal beginilah. Apabila saya bercakap begini ada yang mengatakan bahawa saya berkhutbah. Bagus lagi saya berkhutbah daripada mendengar pertengkaran yang tidak habis-habis. Kepada Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat berkenaan, saya sarankan supaya pergi ke Batu Sapi dan Galas. Sila, teruskan.
[Ketawa]
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua yang bijaksana. Soalan tambahan saya, tadi wakil kerajaan katakan kerajaan tidak pernah mengamalkan apa-apa dasar diskriminasi ke atas semua aliran sekolah. Maka, adalah tugas saya sebagai wakil rakyat untuk memaklumkan kepada Timbalan Menteri tentang garis panduan dan surat pekeliling kementerian yang wujud pada hari ini.
Soalan pertama saya, garis panduan dan surat pekeliling yang sedia ada menetapkan tapak rizab sekolah hanya boleh digunakan untuk bina sekolah kebangsaan dan sekolah jenis kebangsaan lain seperti Tamil dan Cina tidak diberikan layanan yang saksama.
Kedua, garis panduan dan surat pekeliling dari kementerian juga menetapkan jika Lembaga Pengelola Sekolah yang ingin memohon, merayu untuk membina sekolah baru, sebelum mereka mendapat membuat permohonan untuk permit membina sekolah, mereka perlu merayu dan mendapatkan sumbangan wang sekurang-kurangnya 80%, 80% raised baru boleh memohon.
Garis panduan ketiga, surat pekeliling yang dikeluarkan oleh kementerian sendiri. Mana-mana pelajar yang belajar di sekolah jenis kebangsaan Cina, jika hendak tukar kepada sekolah kebangsaan boleh tetapi sebaliknya jika hendak tukar dari sekolah kebangsaan hendak tukar kepada sekolah jenis kebangsaan Cina atau Tamil, tidak boleh. [Dewan riuh]
Sebab itu – Yang Berhormat Rompin, sudah lama tidak datang Dewan Rakyat, tidak tahu, maka jangan buat kacau dalam Dewan ini. Ini surat pekeliling, bukan yang dikeluarkan oleh Pakatan Rakyat. Itu dikeluarkan oleh kementerian, sebab itu saya hendak tanya, soalan saya dengan atas dasar 1Malaysia, Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian Diutamakan. Saya hendak memohon jasa baik …
Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad bin Zarkashi: Okeylah, saya boleh jawab.
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Bilakah kementerian akan mengetepikan…..
Dato’ Shamsul Anuar bin Haji Nasarah [Lenggong]: Yang Berhormat Taiping kena cirit birit macam Yang Berhormat Jelutonglah.
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Bilakah kerajaan akan mengetepikan dan memansuhkan surat-surat pekeliling yang tidak adil ini supaya semua rakyat dalam negara ini berasa mereka diberikan layanan yang adil dan saksama? Itu soalan saya.
Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad bin Zarkashi: Tuan Yang di-Pertua, Yang Berhormat Taiping ini memang kaki gaduh, sebab itulah dengan Yang Berhormat Ipoh Barat pun dia gaduh juga. Kawan sendiri pun dia gaduh. Saya hendak tanya bila hendak cium mulut dengan Yang Berhormat Ipoh Barat. Tuan Yang di-Pertua, Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia tidak pernah menutup sekolah-sekolah SJK(C), SJK(T) dan sebagainya. Bahkan, ada SJK(T) yang tinggal satu murid pun kita tidak tutup. Sebab itulah jangan buat tuduhan yang melulu. Kita ada juga sekolah yang sudah ditutup kerana berpindah tempat lain tetapi mohon dibuka semula pun kita buka semula – kita beri. Kalau Yang Berhormat sebut tentang sekolah SJK(C), kita ada tapak untuk SK (sekolah kebangsaan) yang kita beri dengan penuh ihsan untuk membina sekolah SJK(C) seperti yang di Bukit Sentosa tadi. Kita tidak ada diskriminasi. Sebab itulah dalam Bajet 2011 dengan cukup jelas disebut kita menyediakan RM250 juta untuk sekolah bantuan modal dan RM2,000 kita sediakan untuk bayar utilities setiap bulan untuk sekolah-sekolah bantuan modal termasuklah SJK(C). Untuk makluman Yang Berhormat, kalau kita hendak discriminate, kita terima 800 guru GSTT daripada SJK(C) ke dalam program KDC. Lapan ratus orang satu jumlah yang ramai.
Bagaimana Yang Berhormat kata kita hendak diskriminasi sedangkan banyak lagi sekolah-sekolah kebangsaan juga…
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Surat pekeliling. [Dewan riuh]
Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad bin Zarkashi: Banyak sekolah kebangsaan…
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Bagaimana dengan garis panduan…
Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad bin Zarkashi: Yang menghadapi masalah di pedalaman – sekolah banjir, sekolah menumpang, sekolah dua sesi di pedalaman. Ini juga perlu diberi perhatian. Kita tidak ada memberikan sebarang sikap yang diskriminasi kepada SJK(C), bahkan kita membantu. Kita bayar gaji RM2,900. RM1.8 bilion untuk sekolah-sekolah SJK(C) ini – gaji guru ya. Jadi ini Yang Berhormat kena terima. Saya hendak beritahu, lima daripada sekolah yang tidak selesai tanahnya adalah di Selangor. Di Selangor, kalau boleh Kerajaan Negeri berilah tanah. Apa yang berlaku, dia ambil tanah untuk curi pasir. Itu yang berlaku sebenarnya.
Puan Teresa Kok Suh Sim [Seputeh]: Bantahan.
Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad bin Zarkashi: Tanah untuk bina UiTM pun dia ambil.
Puan Teresa Kok Suh Sim [Seputeh]: Tuan Yang di-Pertua…
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Ini sangkaan jahat.
Puan Teresa Kok Suh Sim [Seputeh]: Tuan Yang di-Pertua, Kerajaan Negeri Selangor memang ada bagi mewartakan banyak tanah untuk mendirikan…
[Dewan riuh]
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Yang Berhormat duduk dahulu, duduk dahulu. Ahli Yang Berhormat duduk dahulu.
Puan Teresa Kok Suh Sim [Seputeh]: Ia ditukar untuk membina SJK(C).
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Duduk dahulu Ahli Yang Berhormat, duduk dahulu.
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Mereka yang mengundang kekecohan Tuan Yang di-Pertua.
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Duduk dahulu, duduk dahulu.
Beberapa Ahli: [Menyampuk]
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Duduk dahulu. Inilah masalahnya. Apabila soalan ditanya, bising, soalan dijawab setimpal, bising.
Datuk Ir. Haji Idris bin Haji Haron [Tangga Batu]: Yang Berhormat Seputeh hendak register kehadiran itu.
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: Tuan Yang di-Pertua, saya hendak bawa Point of Order 36(10)(c). “Adalah salah pada peraturan menggunakan perkataan-perkataan yang harus menaikkan perasaan bersakit-sakit hati ataupun bermusuh-musuhan di antara satu kaum dengan satu kaum dalam Malaysia atau melanggar mana-mana syarat dalam Perlembagaan atau Akta Hasutan, 1984.” Tadi Yang Berhormat Taiping mengatakan kerajaan menutup 40 buah sekolah Cina.
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Siapa makan cili dia rasa pedas.
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: You shut up!
Dato’ Shamsul Anuar Nasarah [Lenggong]: Kurang ajar ini orang.
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: Duduk! Duduk! Ini hak saya. Saya majoriti besar di Parlimen Rompin itu. Jangan kacau. Ini menghasut. Ini kerana apa? Ini kerana dua pilihan raya kecil di sana supaya pengundi Cina tidak menyokong kerajaan Barisan Nasional dan sanggup menghasut orang Melayu kucar kacir antara kaum, ini politik apa ini? Menyalahgunakan ini. [Mengangkat buku Peraturan Mesyuarat] Saya minta maaf. Saya sudah tidak tahan dengar. Saya diam tetapi cara ini…
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Terima kasih, terima kasih. Saya arif benar dengan peraturan mesyuarat tadi itu tetapi selama duduk di sini lebih kurang tiga tahun, saya mempunyai kesimpulan bahawa ahli-Ahli Yang Berhormat ini kadang-kadang hatihati kamu cukup keras. Kadang-kadang tidak terjolok, kadang-kadang tidak sakit, kadang-kadang tidak sensitif. Ini kerana kalau sensitif, andai sakit, tidak adalah Ahliahli Yang Berhormat yang mengeluarkan hujah melanggar peraturan mesyuarat. Terima kasih.
Beberapa Ahli: [Bangun]
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Yang ini berdiri untuk soalan…
Dato’ Shamsul Anuar bin Haji Nasarah [Lenggong]: Tambahan.
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Okey, sila Yang Berhormat Ledang.
Dato’ Kamarudin bin Jaffar [Tumpat]: Maknanya Tuan Yang di-Pertua membuat ruling menolak apa yang dipohon oleh Yang Berhormat Rompin. Terima kasih. [Ketawa]
Datuk Ir. Haji Idris bin Haji Haron [Tangga Batu]: Kami minta ruling Tuan
Yang di-Pertua. Apa hukuman ruling untuk Yang Berhormat Taiping, ruling untuk Yang Berhormat Taiping.
Datuk Haji Mohamad bin Haji Aziz [Sri Gading]: Yang Berhormat Rompin itu bawa perkara yang benar sebenarnya.
Datuk Ir. Haji Idris bin Haji Haron [Tangga Batu]: Satu pandangan yang racist. Ruling untuk Yang Berhormat Taiping Tuan Yang di-Pertua.
Datuk Haji Mohamad bin Haji Aziz [Sri Gading]: Yang Berhormat Taiping membuat perasaan bersakit-sakit hati.
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: [Bercakap tanpa menggunakan pembesar suara]
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Terima kasih Yang Berhormat Rompin, terima kasih Yang Berhormat Rompin.
Datuk Ir. Haji Idris bin Haji Haron [Tangga Batu]: Ruling ini memang kena.
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: [Bercakap tanpa menggunakan pembesar suara] Ini menghasut.
Datuk Haji Mohamad bin Haji Aziz [Sri Gading]: [Menyampuk]
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Ya, ya, terima kasih, terima kasih.
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: Tuan Yang di-Pertua, ini kena tarik balik ini. Ini kenyataan tidak benar dan boleh menghasut yang jelas salah. Akan tetapi parti DAP untuk menang pilihan raya, apa jua mereka akan buat, tiupkan
semangat supaya orang Cina benci Malaysia. Apa ini?
Puan Teresa Kok Suh Sim [Seputeh]: Kenapa Yang Berhormat Rompin begitu bimbang tentang pilihan raya kecil?
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: Betul tidak kerajaan menutup SJK(C)?
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Yang Berhormat Rompin, Yang Berhormat Seputeh sudah, sudah.
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: Betul tidak? Kalau betul tidak apalah, tetapi saya rasa tidak. Ini tohmah, pendustaan yang besar, fitnah
besar.
Ir. Haji Hamim bin Samuri [Ledang]: Okey Tuan Yang di-Pertua.
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Sila Yang Berhormat Ledang.
Beberapa Ahli: [Menyampuk]
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Sudah saya buat ruling Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat. Soalan yang diajukan itu kalau merupakan pembohongan, ia telah dijawab oleh Menteri. Jadi soalan seperti tumbukan kalau 50% kuatnya, jawapan pun 50%, bagi saya fairlah. [Ketawa] Sila Yang Berhormat Ledang.
Ir. Haji Hamim bin Samuri [Ledang]: Terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua.
Sebagaimana yang kita sedia maklum Tuan Yang di-Pertua, bahawa semua sekolah kebangsaan dan semua sekolah menengah kebangsaan adalah untuk seluruh rakyat Malaysia, tidak kira Melayu, Cina atau India. Semua sekolah menengah kebangsaan adalah untuk seluruh rakyat Malaysia. Kita tahu kerajaan prihatin dan kerajaan tidak pernah mengabaikan soal pendidikan. Justeru Tuan Yang di-Pertua, saya ingin tahu sejauh mana – lebih daripada ini, kerajaan lebih prihatin terhadap pembangunan pendidikan sekolah-sekolah bantuan kerajaan? Ini kerana kita lihat setiap sekolah-sekolah ini menghadapi masalah seperti kekurangan guru, bangunan yang daif dan kekurangan kewangan dan sebagainya di seluruh negara. Ini adalah semua sekolah. Tidak ada sekolah Jawa, tidak ada sekolah Iban, tidak ada sekolah Banjar, Bugis dan sebagainya. Ini adalah untuk semua rakyat Malaysia tidak kira Melayu, Cina atau India. Sejauh mana kerajaan prihatin berbanding dengan keistimewaan yang telah kerajaan berikan kepada semua sekolah-sekolah lain. Sekian, terima kasih.
Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad bin Zarkashi: Terima kasih Yang Berhormat Ledang. Sebab itulah di dalam Bajet 2011, kerajaan menyediakan peruntukan tambahan yang semakin besar untuk Kementerian Pelajaran. Bahkan untuk tujuan pembangunan, telah dinaikkan kepada RM6.4 bilion dengan tujuan bahawa dengan pertambahan yang sebegini besar – selain daripada Belanja Mengurus, maka kita dapat memastikan bahawa mana-mana sekolah yang berada dalam keadaan yang daif, sekolah yang sering dilanda banjir, sekolah menumpang sepertimana yang saya sebut masih banyak terutamanya di Sabah, Sarawak yang banyak sangat sekolah menumpang, ini kita akan dapat atasi dengan jumlah perbelanjaan yang bertambah ini. Ini tidak termasuk yang saya kata Belanja Mengurus dinaikkan kepada RM2.93 bilion.
Oleh kerana itu, saya ingin menyatakan di sini bahawa pendirian kita adalah cukup jelas bahawa sekolah kebangsaan ialah bukan sekolah Melayu. Sekolah kebangsaan ialah sekolah untuk semua rakyat Malaysia termasuk pendudukpenduduk yang berketurunan Iban, Kadazan Dusun, Kayan dan sebagainya. Oleh itu, bila kita membela sekolah-sekolah kebangsaan, maka ia juga adalah untuk sekolah semua kaum. Dalam masa yang sama, kita tidak pernah melupakan sekolah-sekolah bantuan modal. Sebab itu kita kategorikan sekolah-sekolah ini sebagai sekolah bantuan kerajaan iaitu antaranya seperti sekolah mubaligh, sekolah SJK(C), SJK(T), bahkan Sekolah Agama Rakyat dan Sekolah Agama Negeri pun kita bantu. Oleh kerana itulah, saya ingin menyatakan di sini bahawa dasar kerajaan dalam soal pembangunan modal insan ini adalah cukup adil, cukup saksama sebenarnya. Sebab kita tahu bahawa pendidikan ini penting.
Sebab itulah pada saya apa juga yang dibangkitkan oleh pembangkang terutama DAP memang adalah bertujuan politik. Mereka langsung tidak pernah membela sekolah-sekolah kebangsaan di pedalaman yang cukup daif. Mereka tidak pernah pergi pun ke Sabah, Sarawak, pedalaman ini. Yang hanya mereka lihat hanya sekolah di bandar.
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Tunggu Pakatan Rakyat jadi kerajaan, kita akan pergi.
Puan Teresa Kok Suh Sim [Seputeh]: Jangan cabar.
Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi: Penghasut besar.
Puan Teresa Kok Suh Sim [Seputeh]: Nanti kalah.
Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Mojilip Bumburing [Tuaran]: Tuan Yang di- Pertua, pertamanya saya ingin merakamkan setinggi penghargaan dan tahniah kepada Tuan Yang di-Pertua kerana watak dan peranan sebagai Tuan Yang di-
Pertua yang world class.

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