KOTA KINABALU: Schools in Sabah should should not burden parents with additional payment for convocation ceremonies.
State Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Aridin Mohd Arif said schools should consider the financial ability of parents or guardians when planning events.
"We can organise events at familiar locations, such as schools or community halls, and this is also one of the things we need to consider.
"I hope that programme organisers will consider the interests or priorities and the needs or capabilities of parents," he said.
He was met by the media during the Prime Lecture programme to mark Isra' Mikraj (ascension of Prophet Muhammad) here today.
Commenting on the lecture programme, Arifin urged the community to heed the lesson from Isra' Mikraj.
"First, we need to enhance or enliven mosques, and second, we need to master knowledge in various fields, not only related to religion but also science, technology and others.
"It was mentioned earlier that the involvement of our children in science and technology is still relatively low, so we will strive to improve mastery of this knowledge.
"Third, solidarity, unity and humanity among us, when Isra' is mentioned, one of them is related to Al-Aqsa (mosque), which we are advocating for Palestine, which faces challenges, needs solidarity from the entire Muslim community."
The lecture programme, at the Sa'adah Hall of the Sabah Islamic Council building, was attended by about 5,000 Muslims, and the lecture was delivered by Mohd Fadhly Hasbullah, or popularly known as Ustaz Manis.