Monday, July 26, 2010

The big Napoleons

JULY 26 — There is always a big Napoleon behind the little Napoleons.

It is said that it was a little Napoleon’s idea to forbid national secondary schools from having non-Muslim societies.


The little Napoleon said that any school intending to form non-Muslim societies must first get consent from the state education director, according to an Education Ministry circular dated December 16, 2000. Non-


Muslim societies formed without consent must be shut down as it was a violation of the law.


As a result, Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin came forward to clarify that the circular was issued on December 16, 2000 and thus, all non-Muslim societies formed before that date would not be affected.


“You can take my word for it,” he said.


Yes, three non-Muslims clubs — Kelab Agama Hindu, Kelab Agama Buddha and the Christian Union — at the Klang High School can continue their operation.


A historical problem has been resolved.


However, how about the present and future problems?


For example, could secondary schools form non-Muslim societies now, I mean, after December 16, 2000?


Also, does it mean that all national secondary schools have not been allowed to form non-Muslim societies over the past decade?


Sorry, I think I have asked the wrong person. It may have nothing to do with Muhyiddin, as according to the circular, schools must first get consent from the state education director before they can set up any non-
Muslim society.


They cannot shut down the existing non-Muslim societies but it should be okay not to allow the formation of new non-Muslim societies as it is the power of the state education director for not approving the applications.


This is strange. Why non-Muslim societies formed before 2000 can be accepted but special permission is required after 2000?


Could it be because the non-Muslim societies formed before 2000 were more in line with the multi-racial national condition of Malaysia, able to promote good social atmosphere and instil correct values in students?


And such societies formed after 2000 could undermine the multi-racial national condition, harm the society and instil inappropriate values in students?


Perhaps, it is how the little Napoleons think. And such kind of information is provided by a big Napoleon.


The “big Napoleon” that I am referring to may be the manipulator who issued the circular, or someone in the state education department who is responsible to implement the circular. It may also appear as an ideology that views all non-Muslim activities with a narrow vision.


There are little Napoleons only when there is a big Napoleon.


Today, everyone, including both the ruling and opposition parties, is blaming the little Napoleons, saying that they are making trouble.


However, everyone seems to tolerate the big Napoleons, and blame only the little Napoleons whenever there are problems.


The British were afraid of Napoleon Bonaparte 200 years ago and thus, they exiled him to St Helena Island, which is located in the Atlantic Ocean, about 2,000km to the west of Angola.


Napoleon had no choice but to spend the last six years of his life on the island doing nothing, except watching seabirds.


It seems that our big Napoleons should also be isolated or exiled. Of course, we do not have any small island like St Helena. However, it is also good to leave them in an air-conditioned office room so that they can live a leisure life. — mysinchew.com

No comments: