Terrence Fernandez…The government need not be schooled on a directive for school children to wear patriotism in their hearts.
THERE are close to five million primary and secondary school students in Malaysia.
Which explains why every pencil pushing (literally) salesman flock to schools due to the large volume of potential customers.
They will approach the headmaster or principal or Parent-Teacher Association (PIBG) reps to convince them to purchase exclusive badges, name tags or stationery.
Priced at say RM2 per item at 1,000 units (students) per school you are looking at overwhelming profits.
This is why at the beginning of every school semester, you can witness parents grumbling over the rise in school fees, incidental costs like sports day fees and even PIBG fees.
The common gripe is that “someone is making money”.
Of course, it is a generalisation and can seem to be unfair and defamatory even – but the fact remains that it is a business that benefits from school children.
One of my earliest reports for The Malay Mail many moons ago was with regards to a circular from the Selangor Education Department to all schools.
The circular signed by the then state education director was instructing each secondary student and primary pupil to purchase name tags.
The name tags cost RM2 each, to be borne by the child (the parents rather); where the principal is required to collect the money and engage the one company that is contracted to supply the name tags.
At that time there were about 500,000 students enrolled in Selangor’s primary and secondary schools.
One can imagine how much revenue the company given the monopoly would be making!
During the course of my reporting it was revealed that the cost of making the name tags was only 20 sen, so you can imagine the profit margin.
Then came the shocker after a tedious Company’s Commission Malaysia (SSM) search (those days we had to endure manual searches at the SSM offices).
The company supplying the name tags is owned by the brother-in-law of the state education director.
Of course there was an uproar.
Then Education Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak directed an investigation and the directive was rescinded with the state director transferred to the Education Ministry.
Why this walk down memory lane? The new directive of the Education Ministry to have school kids wear the national flag on their uniforms begs the question why burden our children again.
The Education Ministry provided an illustration of the Jalur Gemilang badges for school uniforms.
To support the initiative, each student will receive two badges free of charge for the 2025/2026 academic session.
According to a statement from the Education Ministry, the Government would implement the wearing of the Jalur Gemilang badge on uniforms in educational institutions under its administration – including teacher training colleges – effective in stages from April 21.
This is to inculcate a sense of patriotism and love for the country in the young, among others.
The ministry said it would give each student two free badges for the current school session. But this may not be sufficient as the mandatory wearing of the flags is also extended to other clothes such as sports attire and uniformed bodies.
One supposed the students will have to get extra badges and replace worn-out ones by purchasing them at the cooperative store (koperasi).
So who is making these Jalur Gemilang badges, which come with specific dimensions? If it’s to inculcate a sense of patriotism, there are many options available.
And why expect the kids to show patriotism when the adults are still wanting in this area?
Shouldn’t the Government lead by example?
I don’t see civil servants or even Cabinet ministers – including Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek wearing Jalur Gemilang pins on their lapels.
Although, a number can be spotted with the Malaysia Madani pins.
Meanwhile, the MCA – a Government backbencher is now belling the cat – its deputy chairperson of the Education Consultative Committee has now demanded transparency on the tender process and the companies involved.
And with the Prime Minister’s emphasis on good governance and tatakelola, this is not a big ask.
Because asking your Government to be transparent with its policies and the use of taxpayer’s money is also a demonstration of love for your country.
Terence Fernandez is Group Editor of Big Boom Media which publishes Scoop
