'Reschedule teachers briefing on Deepavali eve'

The government has been urged to reschedule its compulsory briefing for teachers invigilating the SPM and STPM examinations, as the briefing currently falls on Deepavali eve.

DAP's national vice-chairperson M Kulasegaran (left) said today that the government was again being insensitive towards the Indian community by holding the briefing on Deepavali eve, Nov 1, which is traditionally a day for family gathering and prayers to ancestors.

He also raised the issue of the ritual slaughtering of cows in the compound of a multiracial national school last week, in conjunction with Aidiladha celebrations.

"In 2011, the prime minister (Najib Abdul Razak) had requested the Parliament speaker cancel the Parliament meeting scheduled on Deepavali eve after I and Pakatan Rakyat MPs made a protest.

"Najib had also announced that the curriculum and exam schedules in Malaysia would be revamped to ensure that it did not clash with Deepavali," Kulasegaran, who is Ipoh Barat MP said in a statement.

"But why is there insensitivity again against the Indian community?" he asked.

Kulasegaran questioned whether this move was because the general election was over and whether the government felt the question of insensitivity "can now be ignored".

"I call on the Education Minister Muhyiddin Yasson to immediately direct that a new date be scheduled," he said.