More reasons to reject Indonesian schools proposal

V.K. Chin, The Star, Asia News Network, Selangor, Malaysia

It is reasonable that the government should consider very carefully the implications of an Indonesian proposal to set up estate schools for the children of their nationals working in the plantation sector.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri had made the proposal to Abdullah Ahmad Badawi during the Prime Minister's visit to the republic recently.

Though it may seem a simple request, it can have vast consequences for Malaysia. But there are more reasons to reject the suggestion than to accept it.

Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar has rightly pointed out that foreign workers were engaged on a temporary basis and could not bring their families along with them.

Based on this principle, their wives and children would not be allowed to join them and hence there would be no necessity for such schools to educate anyone.

If there should be children, their presence would be illegal and a breach of immigration rules. The government, therefore, should reject such an idea.

At the same time, there is no necessity to involve the Malaysian government as it is up to employers in the private sector to set up schools for their employees' children.

However, they will need to apply for a license from the Education Ministry as the setting up of such educational institutions must receive its approval.

So the estate management must make the initial move. If the government should accede to the Indonesian suggestion, the companies might be forced to set up the schools.

There is, therefore, no valid or urgent reason for the request to be made as there are supposed to be no children of foreigners living in the plantations.

In fact, the government should check with plantation companies on whether there are wives and children of foreign workers living on their premises.

But the government is not against the setting up of schools to cater to children of expatriates working in Malaysia who are allowed to bring their families during their tour of duty.

There are international schools for the purpose and the government has been fair in allowing such educational centers as there is a need for their existence.

As a matter of fact, there has been an Indonesian school in existence for some time in Kuala Lumpur for children of Indonesian nationals living and working in this country.