The Malaysian Government has reversed a long-standing rule and is to allow teachers in the Public Service to become involved in politics.
Prime Minister, Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the decision applied to all teachers, including those in pre-schools, undoing a previous circular that had barred one of Malaysia’s key Public Service workforces from politics.
His announcement comes ahead of an election widely expected to take place later this year with millions of new voters now that the voting age has been lowered from 21 to 18 years.
Datuk Seri Ismail said further guidelines on the matter would be released later.
Activists, analysts and parents are urging caution and calling for clearer guidelines rather than giving teachers carte blanche to decide on the extent of their political participation.
Senior Fellow at the Malaysian Council of Professors, an academic collective, Jeniri Amir said teachers should not be able to compromise or abandon their core job, which was to educate.
“There remain questions as to why teachers are being allowed to be in politics after being prohibited for many years,” Dr Jeniri said.
“Teachers in the Civil Service tend to be supportive of the Government of the day, so they can influence the students they are educating.”
He pointed out that with the new lowered voting age, teachers were also likely to play a major role in educating the next generation of voters on politics.
Parents have expressed concern and called for teachers who choose to be in politics to separate their political ideologies from classroom duties.
A former teacher who wanted to be known only as Madam Joyce said young minds were easily influenced “and thus I feel they should leave politics out of education, at least until the kids are at university”.
The National Union of the Teaching Profession, while welcoming the move, also urged teachers not to neglect their essential duties when being involved in politics.
Public Servants generally have several restrictions barring their active participation in politics.
Former Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad said in 2019 that Public Servant could be members of political parties but were not allowed to hold high positions in their parties.
Kuala Lumpur, 28 January 2022
