PUTRAJAYA: DEPUTY Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin urged more schools in the country to set up the Criminalise War Club (CWC) to create awareness among students that war is a crime against humanity.
Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said students had to be made aware that war was a crime against humanity and, as future leaders, they needed to be brave and active in fulfilling the agenda of criminalising war through meaningful activities and programmes to energise peace and harmony in the country.
“War violates every right of a child, such as the right to be with the family, the right to education, the right to health, the right to be nurtured and protected.
“ We are concerned that unless wars are criminalised, more children may become victims in the future.
“It is my hope that more schools will launch such clubs across the nation,” he said in his speech at the launch of the CWC at Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah Putrajaya here.
His speech was read by Deputy Education Minister Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching.
Muhyiddin also praised CWC founder and chairperson, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, for initiating the noble cause to protect Malaysian students against war by forming the CWC. Present were Kuala Lumpur Foundation to Criminalise War trustee Tunku Datuk Dr Sofiah Jewa and Perdana Global Peace Foundation chairman Tan Sri Norian Mai.
Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah Putrajaya is the third school in the country to have a CWC.
The first CWC was launched at Tunku Kurshiah College, Seremban, on April 11 last year, and the second at the Cempaka International School in September last year. CWC aims to build a community having full knowledge, awareness and understanding of the effects of war, especially on women and children.
Dr Siti Hasmah said students, as the leaders of tomorrow, must fully comprehend the CWC charter to blaze a new trail of peace and friendship with all, irrespective of race and religion.
She said Malaysia enjoyed peace and stability that had enabled it to become a developing country.
However, at the same time, the children had not known what conflicts, protests and riots could do. Bernama