Education should not be politicised, says Najib

DATUK Seri Najib Razak reminded all parties that  education is  too important and valuable  to be politicised.

He said the Federal Government had never politicised the sector despite Kelantan being under an opposition party for more than 20 years.

"We may have differences of opinion and political squabbles but the education sector is too important, too valuable, for anybody to make it a political pawn.

"That is why I give a guarantee that the Federal Government will continue to give attention to education in the state.

"Whatever is given to other states, we will always give consideration to Kelantan," he said at the presentation of early schooling aid at SK Seri Wakaf Baharu here yesterday.

The prime minister said the Federal Government, through the national education system, wanted to produce a generation of pious and knowledgeable students.

"Transformations are not based on slogans. If the slogan is Developing With Islam but educational programmes are not held, then it will not become a reality.

"I want to stress this to the people of Kelantan so that they will understand our principles, direction and religious stand in fighting over an issue."

Najib said God had promised that the pious and knowledgeable would be given a higher position to show that religion gave a special emphasis on knowledge.

"We were ordered to be His caliphs in this world but how can we bring prosperity on Earth if we do not have the knowledge. If we are pious but do not have the knowledge, then we will not be able to improve ourselves. However, if we have the knowledge but are not pious, then the knowledge may be misused."

Najib also said Kelantan had achieved several successes in the educational field, the latest being coming out second in last year's Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah, behind the Federal Territories.

"The Federal Territories and Putrajaya are different as the pupils are children of officers and civil servants but in Kelantan, they are from various backgrounds. However, they still manage to come out second.

"I would like to congratulate all teachers who have worked hard and shown their dedication and parents who also have an important part to play in the achievement of their children."

Najib said the Federal Government had allocated RM201.5 million for various educational programmes in Kelantan this year. This, he said, included the students' educational trust fund (RM33 million), 1Malaysia school milk programme (RM1 million), scholarships (RM19 million) and book vouchers for Form Six students (RM5 million).

"We hope the assistance will be put to good use and we are certain that the students, who have been given a chance, will try to transform themselves."

Later, Najib took part in an hour-long walkabout to the famous Siti Khadijah wet market.

The prime minister arrived at the market at 9.15am accompanied by several Barisan Nasional leaders, including state Umno liaison chief Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Kota Baru Umno division chief Datuk Mohd Fatmi Che Salleh and state MCA secretary Tan Ken Ten.

Some 1,000 traders, welcomed Najib on his arrival. He then met the traders operating at the ground and first floor of the market.

Trader Abdul Rahman Yaakub, 65, said yesterday's visit was like a repeat of history for him.

"Forty years ago I had the chance to shake hands with Najib's father, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, who was prime minister at the time, when he had a walkabout programme here."