The ministry of education has assured it will not take any action against the students who assembled in front of the ministry last Monday in a protest against their move from SRJK (C) Damansara to SRJK (C) Puay Chai (2).

"We should not label the gathering by the students in front of the ministry as an illegal assembly as it involved innocent children," said deputy education minister Aziz Shamsuddin today.

"Instead, we should condemn the organisers of the protest, which included 'our friends' from DAP and Keadilan," he said.

Aziz said action will not be taken as discretion was exercised in matters such as this.

"If we take action against everybody for every little mistake, then the courts will be full," he added.

Asked what kind of action would be taken against the organisers, Aziz said that the ministry would leave it to the police to decide.

Big numbers

Aziz was speaking to the press after a ceremony to hand over government assistance amounting to RM3 million to 62 non-government sponsored Islamic religious schools at the Ministry of Education.

On the one-week grace period that has been given to SRJK (C) Damansara's board of governors to persuade the 80-odd students that insist in remaining in the old school to move, Aziz said that he hoped the parents will think rationally before making a decision.

He said the ministry would not re-open the school that has been sealed for the 80-odd students who are at present studying at the temple grounds nearby.

"Why are we talking about the 80 students when there are more than 1,000 who had agreed to study in the new school? You should look at the big numbers and not condemn us," said Aziz.

Aziz also said that the ministry "will not be that cruel" to expel students who have yet to register at Puay Chai (2).

He was commenting on the statement by Hon Choon Kim, also deputy education minister, who had said that students who refused to move to Puay Chai (2) will be considered as playing truant, which could lead to expulsion of the students.

"The moving of SRJK (C) Damansara to SRJK (C) Puay Chai (2) is not an attempt to close down Chinese schools. The Chinese community have been unhappy due to the lack of teachers.

"The community should ask why there are few Chinese school teachers. Due to better options elsewhere, very few Chinese want to be teachers," said Aziz.

' Riba ' issue

Aziz also commented on those who had termed the four percent interest on the National Higher Education Fund Board (PTPTN) loans as riba .

"They can call it what they like. If they believe it is interest, then they should not take it. We need to expand the fund and sustain it.

"Those who took loans from the fund and pay back with an added interest are actually repaying society. Is it not fair to return something to the society?" asked Aziz.

The Muslim Students Association of Universiti Malaya (PMIUM) and the Coalition of Muslim Students Association of Peninsular Malaysia (Gamis) had alleged yesterday that the four percent interest on the PTPPN loans was a burden to the students and the interest termed as riba (interest) was not in accordance with Islamic practice.

Aziz said that those who termed it as riba were the same people who took loans to buy cars and houses but did not mind paying interest on these loans.

"Nothing is free," said Aziz.