PKR’s R Sivarasa said the reasons for the transfer given by the education ministry were “too convenient”.
“It lacks credibility. Education should not be politicised,” he told FMT.
He was responding to Deputy Education Minister P Kamalanathan who said the transfers were a regular procedure, as part of a “rotation” system practised by Tamil-medium national-type schools in Penang.
He had said that was not the only transfer as seven transfers had taken place in Penang involving Tamil schools following the retirement of a headmaster.
However, Sivarasa, the Subang MP raised the issue of him having problems entering into schools.
“Some Tamil, Chinese and religious schools will allow opposition MPs but others are fearful of being seen as supporting the opposition.
“Of course, no national school staff will let us enter their school compound. Such oppression should be stopped,” he said.
The lawyer said school staff should not be made to fear Pakatan Harapan and opposition MPs as MPs sometimes could help out the schools to raise funds.
He said such discriminatory politics should stop as BN MPs have access to schools.
Earlier, Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy had claimed the headmistress of SJK(T) Mak Mandin, Butterworth, V Tamilchelvi, was given a transfer notice a week after Lim’s visit to the school. She has been transferred as HM of SJK (T) Perai after being HM in Mak Mandin for about a year.
Lim was at the school to present a RM100,000 donation for the expansion of the school and another RM10,000 to the school’s kindergarten.
Lim’s appearance at a national-type school is a rare occurrence. He was denied entrance during a visit to a Chinese-medium school in Bukit Mertajam.
Lim was told to get written permission from Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid.
Lim then said Permatang Pauh Umno chief Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said was able to enter the Chinese school as he wished and accused the education authorities of practising double standards.
Headmistress goes on transfer after visit to Tamil school by Guan Eng