Education Ministry told to investigate why non-Malay pupils at SK Taman Hi-Tech, Kulim were shown for two consecutive mornings the “violence and sex” Tamil movie Pokkiri (Thug)

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Media Statement (2)       
by Lim Kit Siang  
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(Parliament, Tuesday) : Yesterday, I received a complaint on my blog from Vimaleson Gunaratnam, a parent of a seven-year-old pupil at SK Taman Hi-Tech, Kulim that non-Malay students in the school were separated from Malay students last Wednesday and Thursday for the whole morning session until recess time and shown a Tamil movie, Pokkiri, which is full of violence and sex.

He sent a letter of protest to the school principal and I read out his letter in Parliament a few hours later during the committee stage debate of the 2006 Supplementary Estimates on the Education Ministry, and asked for a full investigation by the Education Ministry.

This is Vimaleson’s protest letter which I read out in Parliament yesterday:

20hb April, 2007

Tuan Gurubesar,
SK Taman Hi-Tech,
Taman Hi-Tech Kulim,
Kedah.

Tuan,
PER: TAYANGAN GAMBAR TAMIL SEMASA WAKTU SEKOLAH.

Seperti yang dimaklumkan di atas, saya sebagai waris, ingin mendapat penjelasan daripada pihak tuan, rational mengapa gambar Tamil ditayangkan semasa waktu persekolahan baru-baru ini. Kejadian tersebut berlaku berturut-turut 2 hari pada 18 dan 19hb April, 2007. Pada masa tersebut pelajar-pelajar bukan Malayu diasingkan ke sebuah bilik.

Gambar yang ditayangkan bertajuk Pokkiri. Ia dibintangi oleh Vijay.
Tahukah pihak sekolah yang gambar yang dibintangi oleh Vijay mempunyai unsur-unsur ganas and seks yang keterlaluan. Saya sebagai bapa tidak anak-anak saya menonton gambar di rumah saya, tetapi pihak sekolah telah membawa anak perempuan saya berumur 7 tahun untuk menonton gambar ini berturut-turut dua hari. Saya hantar anak saya ke sekolah untuk belajar ilmu, bukan belajar nilai-nilai yang tidak diingini.

Saya hendak pihak sekolah memberi penjelasan:
1. Kenapa tiada pengajaran untuk pelajar-pelajar bukan Melayu pada 2 hari tersebut?
2. Mengapa gambar ditayangkan semasa waktu pengajaran?
3. Mengapa gambar yang berunsur ganas dan seks ditayangkan?

Terima kasih.

Vimaleson is particularly incensed that the movie Pokkiri, starred by Vijay (translated the meaning is “Thug”) and which is full of violence, is shown in school when he would not allow such a movie at home.

He asked:  “What kind of values the school trying inoculate to the kids;; violence, sensuality, etc?”

(24/4/2007)