When truth is spoken, life is threatened

YOURSAY 'In Malaysia when the truth is spoken, you get death threats. As expected, the 1Malaysia champion will not open his mouth over this issue.'

Mum who exposed 'shower canteen' gets kidnap threats

Onyourtoes: We are a hopeless nation. Any fundamental problem we encounter, the first thing we do is to deny. Then we think of a strategy to divert, confuse or deflect attention. Then we try to shoot the messengers.

We are a depraved nation to the core - starting with our spineless, cowardly and gutless politicians who are there just to preserve and protect their positions and perks. The depravity is blatant and shameless.

And we are all still waiting for a clear explanation on why this incident in SK Seri Pristana in Sungai Buloh happened. If no clear explanation is forthcoming, what inference then can one make from this if not that it was due to race and religion?

AngryBird: In Malaysia when the truth is spoken, you get death threats. It is really sad. As expected, the 1Malaysia champion will not open his mouth over this issue.

Old Timer: If only the PM would take action, and say something to stop all this nonsense, then things would not blow up.

Chipmunk: The PM is too busy entertaining VVIPs so that he can ensure his wife has enough money for shopping. Where has he got time for this? And the DPM is Malay first rather than Malaysian first.

So, if the head is not straight, how would one expect to get the tail straight? And now Malay right-wing pressure group Perkasa is trying to whitewash the whole incident by being colour-blind. I have got one thing to say, podah.

Anonymous #22878930: Malaysians of all faiths must stand together and denounce any threat to the well-being of the child. The police must take pre-emptive measures and be proactive and track these goons down and put them away.

Raja Chulan: Guneswari Kelly, the mother who uploaded the pictures of schoolkids having their meals in the shower room, must rightly be praised for her civic duty.

Yes, different people see this incident differently. But whether it involves Muslim or non-Muslim children, whether it is during the ‘puasa' month or not, having to eat in a shower room is disgusting. The person in charge, ie. the headmaster, who made that decision is clearly wrong. Period.

The subsequent action, statement and antics of the headmaster, including giving lame and irrelevant excuses such as not enough space, renovation works, that eating in the shower room is indeed healthy and clean, that he and his teachers broke fast in the shower room just to prove his point, making police reports of death threats, going on voluntary leave, seeking support on Facebook, etc, are akin to the Malay proverb "cuba menegakkan benang yang basah".

Swipenter: Guneswari was puzzled by the move of a blogger to post a photograph of Muslim teachers breaking their fast in the ‘shower room canteen'.

"What are the teachers trying to prove?" she asked. "The children had to eat there every day." The answer is very obvious, and it is a very ugly and frightening one.

Mayvbwell: The answer in my opinion is simple, instead of an apology, the incompetent ones with attitude problems always believe that others are as incompetent as they are and easily be fooled.

Isn't this act (teachers breaking their fast in the shower room) akin to adding insult to injury? It will sound better if the headmaster of the school and the PTA (Parents Teachers Association) chairperson moves the teachers' dining room to this shower room and let the students eat in the teachers' dining room instead.

Anonymous #07521476: Is it right or wrong to make students eat in the shower room? If it was a wrong decision by the headmaster and PTA, just issue an apology publicly. Is it that difficult to do?

This would have put out the fire fast. It looks like the headmaster does not feel it is wrong because he brings other teachers to eat in the changing room. What values is he trying to show to others?

Fair and Open: If the Muslim teachers can have their meals in the shower from now on (permanently), only then they can justify their stand. Otherwise, they are not qualified to be teachers.

Oo!oo: I suggest Guneswari transfer her child out of the school because these teachers are all sick psychos and they will not be able to take on such blame.

These are very immature people and will not be able to see who they are themselves, except to justify the school's action and not bothering to read between the lines of what's happening in school and in the society as a whole.

It happens to so many people across all races and this is the weakness of the ‘tidak apa' (never mind) attitude, and being made use of a million times over to the benefit of Umno and its servants.

Anonyxyz: When you have teachers ganging up to justify something that they should be ashamed to be associated with, it is proof that we as a country has only one direction to go - down.

We have reached a no-return situation when racial events become so distinctly defended or condemned depending on which race you belong.

Mohamad Abdul Malik: "As a mother, I am in tears and sadness. How many times do they need to run...? Dear Malay friends, is this fair to you? Does your Allah allow this?" Guneswari asked.

She has not only turned it into a racial issue but a religious issue as well. Her actions will only invite a similar reaction from other parties. What has the headmaster's action got to do with Allah?

Sometimes one accuses others of being racists without realising that they themselves are no different.

Ferdtan: Mohamad Abdul Malik, you say that "What has the headmaster's action got to do with Allah?"

I don't want to say more, just one question though - do you think (honestly in your heart) that the eating in the shower by the non-Muslims was due to the unavailability of the canteen as it was allegedly under renovation of the canteen and not because it was the ‘puasa' month that the non-Muslim students were not to be seen eating openly?

If you think that was so (which I doubt from the various different responses from the authorities), then you are right to think that way. If not, isn't ‘puasa' religious?

Chee Hoe Siew: This is the result of spreading Umno's version of Islamic morals. You can perform any sinful acts and no one will take action against you as long as you claim the victim's action has hurt or humiliated Islam.

Kadaram: This is Malaysia - when the truth is spoken, one's life is threatened. - Malaysiakini