‘Sabah don’t need teachers from Semenanjung with extremist leanings’

Michael Kaung

A brewing storm over the Education Ministry's alleged plan to send 80,000 teachers to Sarawak is worrying Sabah.

KOTA KINABALU: Barisan Nasional (BN) partner Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) has echoed its neighbour’s apprehension at the prospect of 80,000 teachers from Peninsular Malaysia being transferred to Sarawak next year.

PBS secretary general Henrynus Amin said: “If the allegation is indeed true, then what is the rationale?

“PBS can find no plausible explanation for the massive transfer of teachers from Peninsular Malaysia to either Sabah or Sarawak.

“While the need may have been true 20 years ago, today the case is no longer true.”

Henrynus said the influx of teachers from Peninsular Malaysia who are not screened for their political views will have an influence on the thinking of local youths.

“Sabah and Sarawak is still free from extreme racial and religious views. We don’t want teachers with extreme political leanings such as those expressed by Perkasa to set foot in the two states,” he said.

Henrynus was alluding to a gathering storm in neighbouring Sarawak over the Education Ministry’s alleged plan to second 80,000 teachers to the state.

The transfers, which are expected to include thousands of ustaz (Muslim religious teachers), has put Sarawak’s already wary Christian community on guard.

Sarawak BN-ally Parti Rakyat Sarawak president James Masing has expressed concern over the thousands of uztaz who had be transfered to Sarawak as ‘counselling teachers’.

“Why these ustaz are here I don’t know…  Here, they are called counselling teachers. Counselling on what matter, I do not know.

“It is quite worrying in the sense that if they are really who they are, then the tendency to teach is not there.
“They will be more inclined to look into aspects of religion than actually teaching the students,” he said.

Serious political implications

Echoing his view, Henrynus, who was formerly Kinabalu (now Ranau) MP, said the news of teachers arriving in Sarawak in the tens of thousands is already sending shockwaves through the local communities giving rise to wild speculations.

“Again, if the news is true, there would be a serious political impact, as local youths who are genuinely interested to become teachers and still unemployed would be deprived of job opportunities.

“The Education Ministry must therefore reconsider its policy of sending teachers from Peninsular Malaysia to Sabah and Sarawak.

“It is high time for Sabah and Sarawak to develop the resources from within them and stop the flow of negative influences that sows the seeds of racial and religious discords,” he said.

PBS, he said wants the federal government, in particular, the Education Ministry, to open up more opportunities for qualified youths from Sabah and Sarawak to be trained a teachers to serve the local community.

“Our children are bright and ever willing to serve the nation as teachers even in remote places if they are given the chance,” Henrynus added.