School heads can now delegate caning to teachers

BANGI: Teachers are allowed to cane students but only if the school head gives the go-ahead.

Friday, 29 Sep 2017

Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said school heads are allowed to delegate caning to a teacher if the need arises.

“However, caning cannot be done in public and must be done according to stipulated procedures,” he said after officiating the closing ceremony for the national level Excellent Cluster Schools Convention 2017.

He was commenting on a Malay daily’s report on Wednesday that the Education Ministry was studying whether to let teachers use the cane.

According to the daily, Mahdzir said the move, if adopted, would help curb social ills in schools. He said some quarters were against caning, but whether counselling alone was effective in dealing with disciplinary problems is questionable.

The ministry, he said, would update and make its existing guidelines more holistic.

Based on a 2003 circular, Mahdzir clarified that school heads, at their discretion, can appoint other teachers to cane students. However, he added, the strict caning guidelines must be followed.

These include no public caning, girls cannot be caned and only a light strike on either the hand or covered buttocks.

The caning must also be documented, according to the circular.

National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Harry Tan said allowing teachers to cane students reduces disciplinary issues, misdemeanour and criminal offences.

Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education (Magpie) chairman Mak Chee Kin, however, doesn’t think caning is necessary if the teachers and school heads are good.

He said a weak teacher would have a harder time controlling the class and handling students.

“Some schools have minimal disciplinary problems, while it’s rampant in others. So it boils down to management,” he said.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/09/29/school-heads-can-now-delegate-caning-to-teachers/

‘Shorts policing is about public modesty’

KOTA BARU: Kelantan says its move to serve notice on seven men for wearing shorts is “to educate the public on modesty in accordance with Islamic teachings”.

Friday, 29 Sep 2017

Mohd Fadzuli Mohd Zain, the state Islamic Affairs Department chief assistant director (enforcement), said netizens should stop branding the state religious authority as Taliban for reminding men not to wear shorts in public places.

“Some people are probably over-reacting and enforcement on men for exposing aurat is rare,” he said.

Mohd Fadzuli said this when asked to comment on the notice served on 30-year-old general worker Wan Khairul Hayyee Wali for wearing shorts recently. He has been wearing shorts to play futsal for many years.

“We are educating the community step by step. We rarely take the cases to court,” Mohd Fadzuli said, adding that only two cases were taken to the Syariah Court in recent years – in 2013 and in 2015.

“Those cases involved females dancing dangdut in public wearing tight-fitting outfits,” he said.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/09/29/shorts-policing-is-about-public-modesty/

Muslim-only launderette in Perlis

KANGAR: Another launderette serving only Muslims has been found to be operating in Perlis – just as the Sultan of Johor and the Government have sent out a message that such segregation must not happen in Malaysia.

Friday, 29 Sep 2017

Not for all: The green sign on the left inside the launderette in Kangar, Perlis, states that it is for Muslims only.

The self-service outlet in Jalan Kampung Bakau here has a sign that says: “This laundry is dedicated for Muslim use only”.

The main signboard stated the shop practises “Islamic laundry concept.”

A call made to the handphone number listed at the shop was answered by a man claiming to be the owner. He said he opened the laundry to serve only Muslims.

Asked why, the man said it was done for the “comfort” of the Muslim customers. He urged non-Muslims to use other launderettes and stressed the matter should not be turned into a controversy.

Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin, one of the vocal critics against the “Muslim-only” launderette in Muar, was not having any of that. He came down hard on the shop, making it clear that the state would not agree to any approach which segregated the people.

“I have received an instruction from Tuanku (the Raja Muda of Perlis) to investigate the matter and we will do it right away,” he said in a WhatsApp message.

On Wednesday, the controversial self-service launderette in Taman Seri Cempaka in Muar abandoned its Muslim-only policy and opened its business to all.

After a dressing down by the Sultan of Johor on Tuesday, the owner apologised for his action in putting up a signage at his outlet saying that it was for Muslim customers only.

Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar ordered the launderette in Muar to immediately stop its discriminatory practice or risk being shut down.

“I cannot accept this nonsense. This is Johor, which belongs to Bangsa Johor and it belongs to all races and faiths. This is a progressive, modern and moderate state.

“This is not a Taliban state and as the Head of Islam in Johor, I find this action to be totally unacceptable as this is extremist in nature,” His Majesty had said.

The Muar launderette owner, who refused to be named, said he had obeyed Sultan Ibrahim’s decree.

“I regret the issue and I will obey His Majesty’s command,” said the owner, adding that he took down the sign on Wednesday morning.

Related story:

‘It is okay as long as there is no visible unclean elements’

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/09/29/muslimonly-launderette-in-perlis-owner-who-does-not-want-controversy-urges-nonmuslims-to-go-elsewher/