Eight anti-language switch protestors held
Jimadie OthmanPublished: Jun 21, 2009 10:28 AM | Updated: Jun 21, 2009 10:43 AM
Eight Johor PAS members were detained by the police yesterday while distributing leaflets condemning the government policy of teaching of science and mathematics in English (PPSMI)
All eight were detained in a market in Batu Pahat at 4.30pm for allegedly for distributing leaflets without the name of the publisher and printer.
Eight Johor PAS members were detained by the police yesterday while distributing leaflets condemning the government policy of teaching of science and mathematics in English (PPSMI)
All eight were detained in a market in Batu Pahat at 4.30pm for allegedly for distributing leaflets without the name of the publisher and printer.
They were released at about 8.15pm after their statements were recorded. Among those arrested was Johor Youth chief Khairul Faizi Ahmad Kamil and his deputy Hamid Jammah.
Speaking to Malaysiakini after being released, Khairul Faizi did not criticise the police and said they were only doing their duties.
“For us, our purpose is to tell the public why the policy must be abolished. The government is going to decide soon on the matter.
“As long as no decision is made, the movement (to abolish the policy) must go on,” he said.
KL rally attracted thousands of people
The leafleting activity coincided with a ceramah in Batu Pahat by Johor PAS and the Abolish PPSMI Movement (GMP) to commemorate the 100th day since a successful mass demonstration was held to oppose the policy on March 7.
Among the list of speakers were national laurate A Samad and PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub.
On March 7, GMP rallied thousands of people to protest the policy in Kuala Lumpur to demonstrate in a march from the national mosque to the palace.
Led by former Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka director, Dr Hassan Ahmad, the protestor’s aim was to hand over a memorandum urging the King to intervene.
However, the situation turned chaotic when the police fired chemical-laced water and tear gas at the protestors and scores were arrested. However, the memorandum was successfully submitted.
The PPSMI policy has received widespread condemnation from teaching groups, academics and language activists as they feel the policy did not benefit mother tongue education and was unfair to the rural population.
All eight were detained in a market in Batu Pahat at 4.30pm for allegedly for distributing leaflets without the name of the publisher and printer.
They were released at about 8.15pm after their statements were recorded. Among those arrested was Johor Youth chief Khairul Faizi Ahmad Kamil and his deputy Hamid Jammah.
Speaking to Malaysiakini after being released, Khairul Faizi did not criticise the police and said they were only doing their duties.
“For us, our purpose is to tell the public why the policy must be abolished. The government is going to decide soon on the matter.
“As long as no decision is made, the movement (to abolish the policy) must go on,” he said.
KL rally attracted thousands of people
The leafleting activity coincided with a ceramah in Batu Pahat by Johor PAS and the Abolish PPSMI Movement (GMP) to commemorate the 100th day since a successful mass demonstration was held to oppose the policy on March 7.
Among the list of speakers were national laurate A Samad and PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub.On March 7, GMP rallied thousands of people to protest the policy in Kuala Lumpur to demonstrate in a march from the national mosque to the palace.
Led by former Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka director, Dr Hassan Ahmad, the protestor’s aim was to hand over a memorandum urging the King to intervene.
However, the situation turned chaotic when the police fired chemical-laced water and tear gas at the protestors and scores were arrested. However, the memorandum was successfully submitted.
The PPSMI policy has received widespread condemnation from teaching groups, academics and language activists as they feel the policy did not benefit mother tongue education and was unfair to the rural population.
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