Don't use schools as political tools - lesson for Muhyiddin

Schools should be independent and free from political control.

That's the lesson the opposition hopes former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin learnt after he was barred from speaking at an event at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan USJ4 in Subang Jaya yesterday.

"I hope they realise now how schools should never be used as political tools and I repeat what we have been saying all along - set our schools free!" Selangor state assembly speaker Hannah Yeoh said in a Facebook posting today.

Yeoh (photo) then welcomed Muhyiddin into the club of politicians who are not allowed to speak at schools.

"Welcome to the club. Pakatan Harapan elected representatives have been highlighting this injustice since 2008," she said.

Yeoh made headlines in 2008, after she was barred from attending an event at her alma matter, Sekolah Menengah Subang Utama, shortly after she first became the Subang Jaya assemblyperson.

She is still barred from schools to this day, she said, and has to resort to giving any assistance, including cheques, outside school grounds.

Practice a hindrance

Penampang MP Darell Leiking, who also said he has been barred from schools, said this practice by the BN-led government is a hindrance to elected representatives who wanted to carry out their duties.

"The same government Muhyiddin is part of, had warned schools, community halls, many government agencies and local authorities from opening their doors to us albeit we are logically supposed to speak with them and be part of administering the constituency," Darell said.

Muhyiddin posted on his Facebook page yesterday that SMK USJ4 school administrators told him they “received instructions from certain parties not to allow (him) to speak”.

He said he had expected this to happen but noted he still managed to mingle with those who attended the launching of the local youth football league, organised by the Kelab Sukan Komuniti Subang Jaya at the school.

Muhyiddin was dropped from cabinet along with Umno vice-president Shafie Apdal when they voiced out their concerns over state investment firm 1MDB. -Mkini