Muslims unhappy with cross placed at the new building of a primary school in Sandakan

Sin Chew Daily, 25 June 2015

(Sabah, Sandakan 24 June) Muslim academic staff and parent teacher association are opposing a cross placed at the new building of Sekolah Kebangsaan St Mary Labuk.

The matter has also received attention of Deputy Education Minister Datuk Mary Yap, education circle in Sandakan, board of director of SK St Mary Labuk and Parent Teacher association. An emergency meeting was called to discuss the matter.

Yap said the school had allowed the missionary school to maintain its characteristics in January 2013.

The school was a missionary school

Sin Chew Daily learned that the cross would not be removed. Jiang Kai Wen, a member of board of directors of the school, said the officers of Sandakan education department, teachers, Parent and Teacher Association held a meeting this afternoon. Although both sides insisted on their views, the meeting ended amicably.

Board of director: episode has ended

He said up till now the Sandakan education department has yet to meet with members of the board of directors. The matter is believed to have ended and hope outsiders do not spread inaccurate information to avoid unnecessary misunderstanding.

Sin Chew reporter who visited the school today was informed by security guard that some parents have mistaken the school building with cross a church and hence complained to Parent Teacher Association.

St Mary was a missionary school. In the 60s and 70s, missionary school changed and the administration and classes of the school were handed to government.

Sekolah Kebangsaan St Mary Labuk, Sekolah Kebangsaan St Mary Girls’ School and Sekolah Kebangsaan St Mary City shared school compound. St Mary Labuk has about 200 students where Muslim students made up of 98%. Pupils get along well.

The new building of the school completed this month. Apart from placing the name of the school on the building, the board of directors of the school placed a cross.

After the matter was exposed, netizens shared posting of “Praying for St Mary Labuk Primary School” on Facebook in aid of the school.

They shared remarks of Sandakan education officers that “Priority of schools of different streams is to achieve unity and harmony regardless of race and religion.”

On the other hand, Muslim students who have graduated from the missionary school posted their remarks: “Do not let the disease of racism spread to Sabah. Do not remove the cross. Learn to respect other people’s religion.”

Original Source: 山打根1國小新校舍外牆‧置十字架引穆斯林不滿