KUALA LUMPUR (July 13, 2010): All three religious societies in the Klang High School which were dissolved two weeks ago will be re-established as they should not have been told to stop in the first place, Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Dom said today.

Wee Ka Siong

Saying their dissolution was the result of a "misunderstanding" by the Selangor State Education Department, Alimuddin said: "This is no issue at all. There was no directive from the Education Ministry on this and the religious societies can continue as usual."

The societies are Kelab Agama Hindu, Kelab Agama Buddha and the Christian Union, which had been in existence since 1969. Their plight was highlighted in Citizen Nades’ column on Monday, based on complaints from parents.

Alimuddin told theSun in a telephone conversation: "I do not understand how this can be a misunderstanding but I have clarified with him (the state director) about this."

In fact, the 2000 circular issued by former director-general Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Shukor Abdullah, clearly sets out guidelines on forming non-Muslim religious societies in schools.

The circular quotes Rule 4 of the Education Rules, under Section 130 of the Education Act 1996, which states that the headmaster or principal of a school is to form societies according to these categories:

> subjects taught in school;

> hobby and recreation;

> sports and games;

> uniformed bodies;

> any other society approved by the Registrar.

Thus, the Registrar, who is the state education director, has the power to approve any other societies that does not come under the first four categories.

However, the circular specifically says the status quo is MAINTAINED for schools, which ALREADY have non-Muslim religious societies.

It also states that the rule only applies if there are students or teachers who want to form new religious societies.

theSun also reportedly today that the Klang High School’s case is not the only one.

Nazri Abdul Aziz

Parents of students from SMK SS17, Subang Jaya were also told that the Christian Fellowship in the school had been dissolved in 2009 as they were not registered with the state Education Deparment. The body was formed in 1999, which means its dissolution is also in question.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong, who is also MCA Youth chief, also said the 2000 circular had been wrongly implemented, and the state director Suaiman Wak has been ordered to rectify the mistake.

He also said to facilitate the application process, applications to set up new societies or clubs can now be submitted directly to the state director's office.

Today, Minister in the Prime Minister Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz also clarified that the cabinet has never made such a directive to disallow the formation of non-Muslim religious societies in school.

National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations president Associate Professor Datuk Mohamad Ali Hasan said religious societies are essential in schools to create a "healthy, harmonious society".

"The school should be a ground to encourage tolerance and the different religions and cultures should be known to all," he said, voicing his support for such societies.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon said non-Muslims should be encouraged to have religious societies to expose them to moral values.

"They should be guided in a constructive way, to serve the purpose of transmitting values and teachings of the respective religions amongst the students," Koh said. -- theSun