More reasons to reject Indonesian schools proposal

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.