KUALA LUMPUR: Many people are all for holding events to show their solidarity for Palestine, but lack of understanding and tact could have adverse impact and cause them to deviate from the intended purpose.
The Alliance for Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said concerns raised by different quarters including politicians and non-governmental organisations on the planned Palestine Solidarity Week by the Education Ministry were not unfounded and should be taken into consideration.
"There is nothing wrong in learning about the (Israel-Palestine) conflict and students are supposed to know current affairs.
"However, it (programme) should be done at the secondary school level. And bringing toy guns to school is going overboard," he told the New Straits Times.
He was commenting on images of children holding toy weapons during a programme organised by a school, raising the alarm that such an event would promote extremism among students.
He urged the government to review the Palestine Solidarity Week and make the necessary changes in its approach.
"Violence should not have any place in school as it could send the wrong message to the students.
"To hold the programme is fine, but it must emphasise on teaching universal values such as appreciating peace, harmony and respecting human rights," he said.
Yesterday, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek clarified that it was not part of the ministry's initiative and that the particular school did not comply with the guidelines set.
Following this, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on school administrators to take more systematic measures to monitor the Palestinian Solidarity Week events in schools.