KUALA LUMPUR: A DAP member of Parliament today told Pas and its allies in Perikatan Nasional (PN) to stop politicising the issue surrounding the operational period of school canteen during the fasting month.
Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan said it is disappointing that the directive for school canteens to operate during Ramadan, which was made based on good and humanitarian values, was turned into a political controversy by Pas.
He believed that there were a number of reasons for school canteens to remain open during the fasting month, including the presence of non-Muslim students and teachers who are not fasting.
"We should not forget about incidents reported in the past where non-Muslims students had to eat in school bathrooms and other inappropriate places during Ramadan.
"Does Pas leaders like Datuk Haji Ahmad Yahaya have no compassion for these children?
"The purpose and intention of the Education Ministry's announcement (over the directive) the other day were good and based on humanitarian values.
"Therefore, it is very disappointing when Pas and PN leaders turned this into a political controversy," Syahredzan, who is also DAP central executive committee member, said in a statement today.
He added that Pas and PN have once again shown that their political stance is not in line with a multicultural and multi-religious country like Malaysia.
"It is clear that they are more inclined to issue divisive statements rather than foster unity.
"Therefore, I urge Pas and PN to stop politicising our children's school canteens. Matters like this should not be tainted with their narrow politics," he said.
It was reported that yesterday Ahmad claimed that Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek had issued the directive to allow school canteens to continue operating during Ramadan.
The Pas Ulama Council described such a directive as an excessive move which could spark unnecessary controversy among the public.