School children drawn into debate

Wed, 23 Jan 2002, 00:00 WIB | Source: AFP

MALAYSIA: Nursery schools became Malaysia's latest ideological
battlefield on Tuesday as the Islamic opposition reacted angrily
to a reported government threat to close its kindergartens.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad gave the warning after
accusing Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) of teaching pre-school
children to hate the government, The Star newspaper reported.

But PAS denied the allegation, saying Mahathir was attempting
to tighten his political control by cutting the biggest
opposition party off from the people.

The latest threat was a continuation of measures to muzzle
PAS, which has been painted by the government as a Taliban-in-
waiting, said Mahfuz Omar, PAS youth chief and lawmaker. --AFP

Mahathir has suggested that PAS is linked to an alleged plot
by Afghan-trained militants to overthrow the government by force.
--AFP

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