Fadhlina Unfit For The Job Pas Youth Chief Moots Asyraf As Education Minister

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Mara chairperson Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki should take over Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek’s post as the latter has failed to address bullying issues in schools adequately, said PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden.
Putting forth Asyraf as his preferred education minister candidate, the Alor Setar MP wryly implied that Asyraf appears to be more capable of cracking down on bullying among students.
“(Asyraf) said six students (involved in a bullying case) were immediately expelled - I think he should be the education minister.
Mara chairperson Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki“The only issue is that he has not won (a parliamentary seat). I pray that he will win in the upcoming election so that he can replace the education minister,” Afnan told a press conference in Parliament today.
Disciplinary action has been taken against a number of Mara Science Junior College (MRSM) students this year.
Six students from an MRSM in Malacca had been kicked out after they were found to be involved in a July 18 bullying incident.
Another six students who physically bullied a 14-year-old student at an MRSM in Besut, Terengganu, were also expelled in June, while in April, an MRSM in Penang expelled seven students for bullying a fellow resident.
Asyraf has also issued a public challenge to parents of MRSM students who are planning to sue him after their children were expelled for bullying.
Referencing ongoing public concerns over the death of Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir, Afnan argued that while parents are increasingly afraid of sending their children to school due to potential bullying, Fadhlina appears not to be interested in allaying such fears.
“People are becoming more worried about sending their children to school, and are increasingly losing trust in our educational institutions.
“At the same time, the education minister assures that our schools are still safe, but the public does not want to see verbal assurances alone (as) the situation has become severe, with many bullying cases already occurring in our schools,” Afnan said.
Zara’s death
Afnan further informed reporters that Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul had rejected a motion he had submitted last week requesting a debate on issues surrounding Zara’s death.
Zara Qairina MahathirAfnan said the speaker had said that the relevant ministries will be addressing the case in their winding-up speeches for the 13th Malaysia Plan, which is set to take place next week.
“I’m uncomfortable with this motion not being allowed as ministries will have a limited amount of time to deliver their winding-up speeches and there are plenty of other issues that they will have to focus on,” Afnan said.
Calling for a ministerial explanation session on the case, Afnan stressed that pressing questions regarding Zara’s death and the authorities’ handling of the incident remain unanswered.
He highlighted that no explanation has been provided as to why a post-mortem was not carried out on Zara’s body immediately after her death, and why police have not arrested or remanded a suspect in her case, despite reportedly questioning about 60 witnesses.
He also alleged that there are claims of teachers in Sabah being barred from commenting on the case or any school bullying incidents in the state.
“If (Fadhlina) hasn’t considered how the Education Ministry is going to address this issue, we have several suggestions, (including) legislating an Anti-Bullying Act and forming a special cabinet committee to handle bullying issues,” he added.
‘Historical’ gathering
Also present at the press conference was Sabah PAS secretary Aliakbar Gulasan, who said that a recent gathering in the state calling for justice for Zara shows the rakyat’s unity on the issue.
Describing the gathering as “historical”, the PAS central committee member cautioned that if the matter is not resolved soon, it could spark an “extraordinary uprising” of the public.
Sabah PAS secretary Aliakbar GulasanOn Friday night, thousands gathered across three east coast towns in Sabah to demand justice for Zara, whose death last month sparked outrage over bullying in schools.
Zara was found unconscious in a drain below her school dormitory in Papar on July 16 and died the following day at Queen Elizabeth Hospital I in Kota Kinabalu.
While her family believes bullying may have played a role in her death, Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh has assured that the ministry is prepared to cooperate with the police to assist in the investigation. - Mkini

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