Wednesday, November 01, 2023

TMJ: What message are you sending with toy guns?








TMJ: What message are you sending with toy guns?


Though certain quarters have defended the use of toy firearms in schools, Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim questioned the message it would send to children.

Responding to a question during his recent appearance in the “Keluar Sekejap” podcast, Tunku Ismail said he was notified of such incidents.

“... I got images and reports of certain schools where the teachers themselves encouraged young kids to carry weapons.

“Even though these are toys, not real weapons, but what message are you trying to pass here?” he asked.

Tunku Ismail (above) said he had also contacted Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and the Johor executive councillor who oversees education to “monitor every single school”.

However, PAS MP Ahmad Fadli Shaari disagreed with those who were concerned with the use of toys guns.

An unidentified man carrying a toy gun in a school


Defending the teachers and students, he said the use of fake weapons helped raise awareness about the struggle of Palestinians.

Fadhli had targeted Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming, who is from DAP, over his post on X (previously known as Twitter).

He rejected the notion that the use of toy guns was tantamount to promoting violence or extremist ideology.

Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin


Previously, Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin also took a thinly-veiled swipe at DAP when he remarked that the “rocket” could abe perceived as a threat of violence as well.

“If you consider scarves used to cover the faces of fighters opposed to occupation and cruelty as violent, then the rocket symbol can also be considered as violent.

“Who do you want to launch the rocket at? Who do you want to destroy?” he added, without mentioning DAP, whose logo is a red rocket.

On its official page, DAP said the “rocket symbolises the party’s aspiration for a modern, dynamic and progressive society and its four boosters in red and blue represent the support and drive given to the party’s objectives by all races in Malaysia.”

Meanwhile, Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Salleh suggested that the 12 elected representatives from PKR, who called for a review of the “Palestine Solidarity Week” in schools, be sent on a humanitarian mission to Palestine.

He said this would allow them to better comprehend the situation on the ground.

Charles Santiago


Earlier today, former lawmaker Charles Santiago questioned if teachers would be able to distinguish between the Zionist regime and Jewish people, fearing that anti-Semitism could be sown instead.

The Education Ministry, in its list of “dos and don’ts” for the “Palestine Solidarity Week”, has barred the use of toy weapons.


1 comment:

  1. Children need to role play with replicas of AK 47s , RPGs and mask their face in order to understand the suffering of Palestinians.

    ReplyDelete