The Star Online: Nation
The Star Online: Nation |
- Make Islamic studies subject elective, not compulsory, say MCA, DAP
- Bersih 2.0 organisers to hold another street protest if redelineation done without clean electoral roll
- Train jumps tracks in Sabah, 80 passengers escape unscathed
| Make Islamic studies subject elective, not compulsory, say MCA, DAP Posted: PETALING JAYA: MCA and DAP have opposed a move to make Islamic and Asian Civilisation Studies (Titas) a compulsory subject for local private tertiary students. They said the subject should have been introduced as an elective and making it compulsory was not fair to non-Muslims.  MCA vice-president Gan Ping Sieu. To make study of a single religion or civilisation compulsory for non-followers of that religion is a step backward from national harmony," said MCA vice-president Gan Ping Sieu. He said that Titas merited the same level of research and study warranted by other religions and civilisations of the world, but he deemed making it a compulsory subject an unfair practice. Gan stressed that Malaysians were guaranteed the freedom of religion as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.  DAP chief whip Anthony Loke Siew Fook. DAP chief whip Anthony Loke Siew Fook (DAP - Seremban) said that Titas studies were to be encouraged but not made compulsory. "The approach to make it compulsory will give students a negative picture and that they will be forced to sit for the subject," he said. Loke said that such a subject should be included into secondary school subjects such as History and General Studies. He also highlighted that DAP was not against Islam even though it opposed making the subject compulsory, adding that the party knows that the position of Islam is protected under the Federal Constitution. "An understanding towards other cultures and civilisations have to be nurtured from school days and cannot be done forcefully," he said. Some local educationists have questioned the move, adding that the new compulsory subject would mean extra stress for students, and that it needed review as it would be taught in Bahasa Malaysia. Others however, said that the move would lead to a harmonisation of higher education here and that Titas was not about studying religion, but rather comparative Asian civilisations and common values.In a report Friday, Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said in a parliamentary written reply to Dr Ko Chung Sen (DAP - Kampar) that the move was to standardise requirements between public and private universities. He said that the move, which would take effect in private tertiary institutions come Sept 1, would also include Ethnic Relations and Malaysian Studies. Foreign students in these institutions would be required to learn Malaysian Studies and Malay Language Communication courses. |
| Posted: KUALA LUMPUR: Organisers of Bersih 2.0 will hold another street protest if the Election Commission proceeds with the redelineation process of parliamentary constituencies without cleaning up the electoral roll. Its co-chairman Datuk S. Ambiga said the coalition would embark on a nationwide campaign to educate and raise awareness of the public regarding the consequences of the redelineation process expected to be conducted by the end of the year. "If they insist on the process of redelineation, I do not rule out the possibility of holding Bersih 4.0. "Because if this is the only way they (Government) are going to listen to us, that is what we are going to do," she told reporters at an electoral reform seminar organised by the Bar Council here Saturday. She said the EC should not rush into the redelineation exercise and must clean up the electoral roll as it would be meaningless to make any real electoral changes without having it fixed. EC member Datuk Dr P. Manogran, who was also present at the seminar, said the commission would study all the proposals made by the Bersih 2.0 regarding electoral reforms. |
| Train jumps tracks in Sabah, 80 passengers escape unscathed Posted: KOTA KINABALU: Some 80 passengers of a train escaped unscathed when it derailed at Kampung Kawang in Papar about 40kms from here early Saturday morning. The passengers later continued on their journey to Papar and Beaufort towns by bus. The train departed from the main Tanjung Aru station at 7.45am and derailed 15 minutes later while it was passing through a "dangerous stretch" in the Kampung Kawang, said Sabah Railway Operation Officer Awang Zainudin Awang Matusin. He said that the train jumped the track due to technical problems and not because of poor maintenance. "Train drivers are advised to slow down when they go through that stretch and take extra caution," he said, adding that steps were being taken to correct the situation. Last month, a train crashed into a car in Kepayan here, killing the car driver and injuring two of his passengers, who were tourists from Hong Kong. |
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