SIBU: Is an alleged move by the Education Ministry to transfer 80,000 teachers from Peninsular Malaysia to Sarawak an insidious plan to “convert” locals?
If it is, then Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government is digging itself into an even deeper hole here.
Already, the majority Christian Sarawakians are seething at the Umno-led government’s high-handedness and arrogant dismissal of the Federal Constitution in relation to freedom to practise one’s own religion.
Sarawakian Christians have felt the brunt of restrictions on practising their religion, particularly in the use of the term “Allah”.
A Kuala Lumpur High Court ruling on Dec 31, 2009, allowing the Catholic publication “The Hearld” to use the term, triggered several cases of arson against churches in the peninsula.
The most recent scrape against the community came when the government impounded some 30,000 copies of the Al-Kitab, a Malay version of the bible imported from Indonesia meant for use among the local parishes in Sarawak.
To quote a church-going civil servant here, “practising one’s faith in Malaysia is now a struggle…”
Any attempt, even something as “innocuous” as sending teachers across to Sarawak to help improve standard of education is given a wary eye.
Expressing his concern over the latest alleged “threat”, Parti Rakyat Sarawak president James Masing said there were already 30,000 teachers from Peninsular Malaysia in Sarawak, including hundreds of “ustaz” (religious teachers) who are already stationed here.
“Why these ustaz are here I don’t know… But the ustaz are not seen as ‘ustaz per se. Here, they are called counselling teachers. Counselling on what matter, I do not know.
“It is quite worrying in the sense that if they are really who they are, then the tendency to teach is not there. They will be more inclined to look into aspects of religion than actually teaching the students,” he said.
Social problems
Asked if he was concerned that his views may be misinterpreted, Masing said: “If they are so-called counsellors in a correct form, I do not mind.
“If they are masquerading as something else, then it is quite dangerous,” he said.
Masing hopes his instincts are wrong.
He said there was really no need for an additional 80,000 teachers in Sarawak, adding that the move would deprive locals of teaching opportunities and create other social problems.
“I hope they are not transfering 80,000 teachers from the peninsula…We have enough Sarawakians who can teach.
“Such large numbers will cause other implications. I hope I am wrong.
“I will be very happy if I am wrong,” he told reporters after officiating at a pre-Gawai dinner oragnised by PRS Bukit Assek Women’s wing.
He said although PRS was agreeable to having teachers from the peninsula in the state, it was wrong to have outsiders depriving locals of opportunities.
“We are agreeable only if it is not done at the expense of Sarawak teachers. You cannot allow people from outside to take over people in Sarawak here to teach,” he said.
Everything UMNO does is at the expense of Sabah and Sarawak. History is our biggest witness.
ReplyDeleteWe have our own teachers in Sarawak, we have locals who can be trained to become teachers. We don't need Peninsular teachers.
ReplyDeleteLocals should be given the chances to become teachers, there is no need for imported teachers.
ReplyDeleteAll Sabahans must stay united to kick all the party malaya UMNO and PR out from Sabah for good.
ReplyDelete"Ustaz's 1Malaysia Plan for East Malaysia...proselytisation"
ReplyDeleteIf this for real, one word DISGUSTING!
80,000 teacher to East M'sia? No need lah..habis duit rakyat untuk bagi elaun kepada mereka sedangkan elaun guru2 dari Sabah Sarawak kecil saja. Ceh
ReplyDeleteIm sick of SM people. Can they just leave us alone..... !!!
ReplyDeleteCan we just give them a limit when sending anything here in Sabah and Sarawak?
ReplyDeletesebaiknya jika guru-guru tempatan diberikan keutamaan untuk mengajar di negeri sendiri.
ReplyDeletesaya yakin ramai warga tempatan yang layak untuk menjadi guru di negeri Sarawak..seharusnya mereka diberikan peluang dan keutamaan.
ReplyDeleteguru2 tempatan harus diutamakan.
ReplyDeleteramai penduduk tempatan yang layak menjadi guru. mereka harus diberi peluang.
ReplyDeletebetul tu eclipse. memang banyak tu elaun orang2 Semenanjung yang mengajar di Sabah/Sarawak. tapi kalau orang Sabah/Sarawak yang di Semenanjung pula mana ada elaun macam dorang.
ReplyDeleteentahlah kenapa ramai orang Semenanjung dihantar mengajar di Sabah dan Sarawak sedangkan banyak pula rakyat Sabah Sarawak sendiri tunggu2 mau isi kekosongan guru. yang bekas GSTT di Sabah pun ramai lagi yang tidak diberi penempatan.
ReplyDelete"But the ustaz are not seen as ‘ustaz per se. Here, they are called counselling teachers. Counselling on what matter, I do not know."
ReplyDeletewhether you have been doing your own surveys or just based on your theory about this matter, i do not know..
another move to "stabilize" or "neutralize" the Christian-majority state. Just like what happen to Sabah. since they cannot import filipino then they import this Malay PIG ustaz to convert the Christian. its a colonization for Christ sake how can you not see it???????
ReplyDeleteMALAY UMNO PIG GO BACK TO YOUR FUCKING CAVE AND LEAVE SARAWAK ALONE! FUCK YOU ALL MALAYA!!!!!
I remember how one of my ex students who is a devoted christian Timorese PTI became a muslim with Tudung Litup after being accepted to attend MRSM at Kinarut Papar. Now she has finished her degree and is working with a high rangking job in a CM Dept.
ReplyDeleteIn education priority to local for State.
ReplyDeleteIni yang saya tidak suka dengar. Kalau pendidikkan, pendidikan saja la. Jangan mahu kasi main tu isu2 agama dalam pendidikan akedemik.
ReplyDeletePengislaman secara besar2an danpaksa berlaku dengan agressif di Sabah pada awal 1970an khususnya kepada orang di Pedalaman dengan ganjaran wang,biasiswa dan binatang ternakan oleh rejim TUN Mustapha dan para pemimpin UMNO. Ramai yang kekal tapi tidak kurang juga yang murtad kerana tidak rela bertukar agama secara sembunyi2. Pada waktu itu saya masih ingat beberapa orang padri ditangkap dan disumbatkan ke dalam penjara. Pada waktu itu majoriti penduduk Sabah adalah beragama christian. Usaha yang lebih agressifuntuk menjadikan penduduk Islam mengatasi penduduk majoriti christian di Sabah telah dilakukan dengan sangat berjaya apabila Pengambilan warga asing dari Indonesia dan Filifina yang beragama islam sebagai Warga Malaysia secara ekspress di Sabah telah mengubah demografi penduduk Sabah buat selama-lamanya. Jangan biarkan ini berlaku di Sarawak.
ReplyDeleteProjek IC Mahathir mungkin akan ditukar dengan Projek Penghantaran Guru Agama Satu Malaysia ke Sarawak dengan alasan Untuk Menguatkan akidah Islam. Hu sungguh dasyat para pemimpin SM ini, tidak cukup dgn pengajara Islam di sekolah, rancagan2 Islam yg berlambak2 di Radio dan TV, Khutbah Jumaat, Khutbah Perdana dan macam2 lagi program realiti dan masjid yang besar2 yang jumlahnya puluhan ribu di seluruh Malaysia . Adakah itu belum cukup? Inikah yang dikatakan kebebasan beragama? Atau mereka mahu paksa semua orang di Malaysia ini jadi Islam dan Melayu? Mungkin mereka mengatakan ini sebagai jihad, tapi adakah ia perlu diterima secara sakit dan melulu oleh orang2 beragama lain yang selama ini hanya mampu menerima penindasan secara halus dan kejam oleh para pemimpin UMNO? Bukankah lebih baik kalau mereka menunjukkan kepada orang yang bukan beragama islam bahawa agam islam adalah agama perpaduan sebagaimana yang mereka laungkan selama ini.
ReplyDeleteIni bukanya isu pendidikan tapi isu pendidikan agama. Nenek moyang dan sdra mara kamu adalah non muslim dan bukan bangsa Melayu tapi kamu jadi Islam kerana ibubapa kamu masuk islam dengan ganjaran yang lumayan. so , be objective and practical wahai Precious budak ingusan.
ReplyDeleteKalau semua guru dari semenanjung datang Sabah Sarawak bagaimana dengan guru tempatan sendiri.
ReplyDeleteLocals should be given the chances first, prioritize local teachers.
ReplyDeleteHope that no one will politicize this issue, what we need now is solutions.
ReplyDelete