NUTP: Don't pick on teachers for FB postings
Nigel AwPublished: Jun 4, 2014 8:00 AM | Updated: Jun 4, 2014 1:03 PM
Teachers should not be picked on for what they post on Facebook because it is their personal freedom as long as it does not contravene any law, says the National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP).
One's Facebook page is a "personal right" and other parties should not try and dictate what should or should not be posted, NUTP president Hashim Adnan said today.
Teachers should not be picked on for what they post on Facebook because it is their personal freedom as long as it does not contravene any law, says the National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP).
One's Facebook page is a "personal right" and other parties should not try and dictate what should or should not be posted, NUTP president Hashim Adnan said today.
"It is an individual right, so don't touch it. If someone wants to touch it, then they don't understand what the concept of freedom is," Hashim (left) told Malaysiakini.
He was responding to an incident where a teacher was reprimanded by the Education Ministry after putting up, among others, a poster of DAP's Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud on her Facebook page.
She had also uploaded a 1980s news clipping quoting first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman calling for the abolition of Umno.
"Let Facebook be a space for socialising. That will be more beneficial to all, rather than nitpicking on this picture or that and then saying that action will be taken. That is very shallow (thinking).
"Just because people read something on Facebook doesn't mean they must agree with it. Let them read. What is wrong in that?" Hashim asked.
'No politics in classroom'
However, he said if teachers posted something that was seditious, then they must take full responsibility and be prepared to face the law.
Asked to comment on Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor's (right) call yesterday to teachers to return to politics, under BN, Hashim said likewise, this was also a personal freedom.
He said any teacher who was interested in politics should be free to join any political party, be it in the government or opposition.
However, he said, teachers must be mindful to remain professional at all times.
"We hope teachers involved in politics will leave political matters outside the schoolgate.
"In school, it is only about teaching, full stop. Do not talk about politics (in the school) and then tell people to do this or do that," he said.
Teachers have been barred from active politics, but the ban was lifted in 2010.
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One's Facebook page is a "personal right" and other parties should not try and dictate what should or should not be posted, NUTP president Hashim Adnan said today.
"It is an individual right, so don't touch it. If someone wants to touch it, then they don't understand what the concept of freedom is," Hashim (left) told Malaysiakini.He was responding to an incident where a teacher was reprimanded by the Education Ministry after putting up, among others, a poster of DAP's Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud on her Facebook page.
She had also uploaded a 1980s news clipping quoting first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman calling for the abolition of Umno.
"Let Facebook be a space for socialising. That will be more beneficial to all, rather than nitpicking on this picture or that and then saying that action will be taken. That is very shallow (thinking).
"Just because people read something on Facebook doesn't mean they must agree with it. Let them read. What is wrong in that?" Hashim asked.
'No politics in classroom'
However, he said if teachers posted something that was seditious, then they must take full responsibility and be prepared to face the law.
Asked to comment on Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor's (right) call yesterday to teachers to return to politics, under BN, Hashim said likewise, this was also a personal freedom.He said any teacher who was interested in politics should be free to join any political party, be it in the government or opposition.
However, he said, teachers must be mindful to remain professional at all times.
"We hope teachers involved in politics will leave political matters outside the schoolgate.
"In school, it is only about teaching, full stop. Do not talk about politics (in the school) and then tell people to do this or do that," he said.
Teachers have been barred from active politics, but the ban was lifted in 2010.
Related stories
PKR: Umno using teachers as propagandists
Langkawi MP in another FB blunder on Yammy
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