MOE transfers officer who banned Tamil songs from language carnival - Is that all, a tap on the wrist?

Malaysiakini : An Education Ministry officer who banned Tamil songs from being performed at a Tamil language carnival has been transferred out. However, it was unclear where the officer - whose identity and rank are unknown - was transferred to, and whether there were any other repercussions.

An aide to Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek revealed the transfer while trying to dismiss allegations that the ministry did not take action over the incident. Instead, Fadhlina’s special officer Thiyagaraj Sankaranarayanan said stern action was taken. 

"The officer responsible has been transferred to another department," he said on Facebook yesterday. "Allegations that the ministry did not take action on other officers who had ordered the matter are also baseless. "We have to be aware that any statements on this matter will affect further investigations by the ministry," he added.

Last month, there was an uproar after two Tamil songs were banned from the Tamil language carnival in Penang, which was organised by the Education Ministry. The two songs were 'Kadavul Valthu', a worship song, and 'Tamil Valthu’, which is a song about the Tamil language.

Also banned were banners featuring Tamil literary and philosophical figure Thiruvalluvar. Fadhlina later said the incident should not have happened and apologised to the Indian community over the matter.

Newday : For years and years, this modus operandi of transfer and all of a sudden problems are fixed! Plainly the problem is still with the person. In this case a religious zealot. A transfer will never fix their indoctrination.

A153 : Transfer is "stern action" Hahaha! What a joke. Fadhlina you are an Embarrassment.

OrangeKucing5562 : Transfer is NOT the right disciplinary action. The officer must be given warning letter or better to terminate him or her for committing racial bias and sedition as a matter of fact.

OrangePanther1466 : Minister Fahdlina, this person should have been demoted first and sent to INTAN or a suitable faculty for a re-education course. He should not have been transferred as that would tantamount to shifting the problem to another division. He should stay in the same school and face the humiliation of an official reprimand.

Fair Play : Because they caused interracial tension instead of promoting racial harmony as civil servants - and especially when they are in the Education Ministry. These little napoleons have no place in the civil service where they are constant contact with all communities.

AyuhMy : This shows that whatever the gov does is only a whitewash. Why transfer and not termination or act upon based on 3R laws?

View more comments here....