School heads in Penang have been instructed or “advised” not to invite State Government leaders and other elected representatives in Penang as VIPs and guests-of-honour. The message was conveyed during a briefing last Wednesday by a senior official from the Penang Education Department, which comes under the federal-level Education Ministry.
The directive/”advice” to play on the safe-side was made verbally (and not in writing), according to a principal of a school in Penang and confirmed by another senior staff member from the same school. They were understandably indignant at the ruling.
This just shows the kind of small-mindedness among certain Education Dept/Ministry officials. I believe even DAP-PKR state assembly members who are not holding exco posts may now not be invited as VIPs/guests-of-honour to schools.
Take a look at this year’s Penang Schools Sports Council (MSSPP) meet, which is opening today in Batu Kawan and closing on Friday. The Penang school sports meet traditionally has been officially opened by the Governor of Penang and closed by the Penang Chief Minister. But this time around, my second source said that the invitation cards issued to schools indicates that the closing ceremony will be officiated by the State Education Director.
I wonder if there is a similar ruling/”advice” in the other four opposition-controlled states. Perhaps readers of this blog who are school heads can tell us.
But I think there is a silver lining. This directive will, unwittingly, give the new Penang State Government leaders more time to spend on running the state efficiently, instead of wasting time officiating at routine school functions. Though I am sure the Education Department officials did not have that in mind!
Now, the question is, will USM officials follow suit and avoid State Government leaders like the plague?
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[...] Penang school heads told not to invite State Govt leaders as VIPs School heads in Penang have been instructed or “advised” not to invite State Government leaders and elected […] [...]
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I am very glad and not surprise that this education official did that.We are well aware who his big boss is.This is the best the fake Hang Tuah can offer.Do you think he can have better ideas to uplift the standard of our education system? Well,it seems that the federal government is still suffering from somnambulism and cannot recover.We can wake them come the next general election.That’s why I am glad they continue with their misdemeanour.
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Kurang Ajar BN ! Betul Betul Kurang ajar.
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And these are the people who are being entrusted with educating our future generation. No wonder voters get them packing.
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Tell this to the school kids.
They are smart enough to know the truth and when they are older they will avoid BN like a plague…aahhh…if the BN is still around.
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just imagine what the kelantan govt went through since 18 years ago when BN was a superpower.
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Such puny minds…and they talk about excellence in education of world class standard ! What utter rot ! Vote them out in the next GE !
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Surely, this has to be from the Minister of Education himself, who only knows how to wield a kris that is only suited to a kid’s toy. No government elected representatives huh, so be it. These are some idiotic actions by the obsolete BN, which will self destruct sooner than many expected. They will never learn, will they?
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BN is trying to find out why they did so badly in the elections. The reason is simple: many BN MPs have very small defective minds and huge egos. The only solution is to get rid of all of them – starting from the PM – and replace the party with true professionals who are intelligent and mature.
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“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” – Aristotle
Exercise your democratic rights without fear or prejudice.
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That only shows how narrow-minded is BN lead by UMNO ! They never learn their lesson. These Opposition politicians are now state governors ! However, look at it at the bright side, it will be better for schools. Forget about wasting time on elaborate welcoming programme & protocol, concentrate on education . PP excels !
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Even though the “advice” was given based on dubious intent, not only it could turn out to be a silver lining, it also would do away with unnecessary protocol. I was in the PIBG for some years and we were often so frustrated by these so-called VIPs who acted as if the school functions were their “grand-father’s” business. They can late, pulling their weights around, expected to be served, gave long and winding speeches to promote themselves, expected gifts… and the list goes on. The schools have been turned into a political arena for campaign. I suggested to my PIBG committee that we should invite people who are really concern about education and let them share the occasions. But sadly, even the PIBGs were now filled with political people, like the one I was in. I was wondering how do they now function with a different state government.
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From past experiences, functions officiated by government officials, were , in most cases, occasions in which much animosity was generated against these officials. These ‘public servants’, allowing power to get into their heads, acted like lords. The rakyat was made to wait for the arrivals of such ‘big-shots’. Now that most of the them had been ‘shot’ and had left the scene, it would work to the benefits of the rakyat and the newly-elected members that such invitations are stopped. It is better not to lose the hard-earned goodwill of the public unnecessary.
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IMHO current CM should not feel upset for not being invited for such functions. We the rakyat have voted him there to serve us with honesty and just. Serve the state with the trust we’ve put onto you LGE, by the time the next election comes, the rakyat knows who does the real job in the office.
These puny minded officials who instructed such directives to the schools should be ashamed of themselves. Akin to small kids throwing tantrum for not getting the ice cream!
The time will come when the school heads will realise their mistake in collaborating (either intentionally or otherwise) with these morons.
Just my 2 cents …
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Can someone start taking down these officers’ names (or IC) or even do a voice/video recording when these so called “officers” give briefing in the schools. Don’t forget to upload to the youtube
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I thought I heard the Prime Minister’s noble call to develop first class human capital blah blah blah…if that is the case, Penang students should interact more with intelligent people.
I can see certain members of the state government, like LGE, Prof R, Liew Chen Tong (have to check my spelling) and Jeff Ooi are among the outstanding ones that the students should meet up and learn from.
It would not augur well with such a noble objective when opportunities to interact and learn positively is denied.
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Anyway, as the almighty federal government, any directives should be in written form, signed off and communicated to avoid confusion. That’s basic management.
So can the gentlemen please put the directive in writing? I as a tax payer would request such directives communicated and justified openly.
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What can you expect of the people who still cling ti their seats. Typical of them to “punish” the people who have beaten them. For years, Malaysians living in constituencies held by opposition parties are denied basic amenities (if the BN can get away with providing the least, all the better). That mentality of so called political leaders has bot changed since 1969 and I honestly do not expect to see any change in them.
As for the “messenger” who delivered the “advise not to invite State Government leaders and elected representatives from the DAP-PKR as VIPs and guests-of-honour” I feel that the “messenger” should be identified so that we can ‘follow the advise trail’ to identify the “Adviser”.
It is time that all nonsense perpetrated by the BN and to be fair, if the Barisan Rakyat should ever behave or act in the same way, the identity of each guilty party should be made public so that they may be judged by the people. Previously, the public are left wondering what happened after some mischief or nonsense is perpetrated as the Media will obediently keep their mouths shut. The internet is the people’s weapon to expose whatever mischief committed and we should make full use of this medium to keep all informed.
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[...] trying to enforce ‘divide and rule’ policy over the school teachers but also reveals the true colors of BN… the colours of hypocricy, bad governance, selfish and what [...]
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The direcctive is from the min. of education.
WHO IS THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION ?
Now we know why
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If this is true, than our Yang Berhormat will be very relax.
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Teacher, teacher, who’s the CM in Penang? DIAM. DIAM. KITA tak ada CM. Dah Mati. Macam bapak addict you.
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The BR STATE CM AND MBs should make a joint statement that those DIRECTORS AND heads of dept who find it hard to work with the BR govt should resign their positions, or ask to be reassigned, I am digressing here a bit but I heard that 8 out of 12 waterpumps broke down recently, are these pumps new, if they are there should be a garantee period, and normally if the cost of these pumps are higher than the gurantee period is normally longer, mr. anil can you checkon this as i am living overseas
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It never stop to amuse me that the fate of my beloved country is under the hands of these ministers. A ….. would have done a better job than them
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Yes, these so-called “messenger” need to be identified and their name published!!! Expose them under the day light of their shameful acts.
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