Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has slammed Idris Jusoh for stating those unhappy with the country’s education system could opt to send their children abroad, saying it was the government’s duty to “sell” its policies.

NONEPointing out that nobody expects all government policies to “please everyone”, Kok (right), in a statement, described the education minister II’s statement as “unbecoming of a minister”.

She then questioned if Idris’ stance would mean the same can be asked of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the latter’s teaching of science and mathematics in English (PPSMI) policy was reversed by the later government.

“The policy (PPSMI) did not please everyone, so my first question is could Mahathir tell those people who were not happy to send their children to study abroad?” she questioned.

“This policy reversal (back to Bahasa Malaysia) did not please everyone, so my second question to Idris is can the government tell the people, including Dr Mahathir, to send his grandchildren to study abroad if they opposed the government’s decision?”

Idris must remember, she added, that it is the “government’s responsibility to plan, implement as well as sell its polices” by way of persuasion and debates.

NONEIdris (left) had reportedly said during a forum yesterday: “If some people feel the system is not good and want to send their children overseas to study, the government cannot stop them. But the Ministry will work towards improving the country’s education system.”

This came after Chinese education groups - Jiao Zong (United Chinese School Teachers’ Association), Hua Zong (Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia) and the National Union of Heads of Schools - denied Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s claim that vernacular schools agreed to extra 60 minutes of Bahasa Malaysia lesson for Year Four to Year Six.

'Intense political contestation'

PAS central committee member Dzulkefly Ahmad described Idris’s statement as most regrettable, as being a minister he must exude wisdom, composure and tenacity.

“I could understand we are living in very intense political contestation as a result of the BN government failing to regain a two-thirds majority in Parliament, and worse still BN now are supported by less than half of the electorate.”

The former Kuala Selangor MP said despite this, BN is still the federal government and as a minister and government, they should stop throwing tantrums. 

The New Education Blueprint, he said, is the most critical document about human capital and represents the nation’s survival.

“Stop asking people to leave the country and in this one sending their children abroad as there is enough of a brain drain already. Every time people express their dissent, this is because there are pertinent proposals from the appointed panel led by Dzulkifli Abdul Razak which have not been adequately addressed with.”