Open letter to the Ministry of Education [via email]

For the attention of Tan Sri Dato’ Hj Muhyiddin Hj Mohd Yassin.

Re: MOE support/endorsement of ‘LGBT’ guidelines

MCLM strongly objects to the Ministry of Education’s support and endorsement of guidelines purportedly designed to enable schools and parents to identify behaviour allegedly associated with the ‘LGBT’ community.

We are appalled by this decision because the MOE has arbitrarily taken upon itself a task and/or responsibility that is not mandated by law. Your ministry’s primary and only purpose is to provide academic opportunities and infrastructure at all levels of the social strata for every Malaysian citizen.

The MOE’s vision and mission states:

Vision:

Excellent schools producing distinguished generations

Mission:

Developing the potential of individuals through quality education

Objectives:

• To produce loyal and united Malaysians

• To produce individuals who are devout, honourable, knowledgeable, competent and contented

• To provide manpower for the development needs of the nation

• To provide educational opportunities to all Malaysians

We do not see a pre-qualification on acceptable behaviour of students inserted in this statement. In fact, we would go so far as to say that it is exemplary because it does not contain any specific reference to gender, race or religion but rather, focuses on creating a united Malaysia.

Actions like this endorsement of the LGBT guidelines go against the admirable spirit of your Ministry’s vison and mission statement because it engenders discrimination within our schools.

Your deputy, Dr. Mohd Puad Zarkashi, did not make it clear what steps the MOE took to verify the accuracy of these guidelines as well as the credentials of those who formulated them. However, even a layman can see that every single point is spurious and without merit. They merely serve to legitimise prejudice and bigotry in our society.

The mental and emotional damage it will certainly cause to our children is incalculable. A person’s time in school is already fraught with identity crises and peer pressure. Being labelled as LGBT will  compound this situation as it will exacerbate sexual confusion, self-doubt and fear. By endorsing these guidelines, the Ministry is presenting bigots in schools with more ammunition to disenfranchise and terrorise those students who do not conform.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin, we urge you to rescind your Ministry’s endorsement of these guidelines for the sake of our youth who are the future of our nation.

MCLM believes that the right to choose one’s own journey to fulfillment in life is a personal choice, just as one is legally allowed to vote a representative into parliament without interference by the state. Malaysia will only excel to higher aspirations and achievements if its citizens truly believe in their hearts that they belong, without fear or favor.

For that to happen, everyone matters.

 

Sharifuddin Abdul Latiff

MCLM President