The posting in Jumat’s Facebook account showing a picture of Dr Roland at the event with members of the PTA.
KOTA KINABALU: Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Tombongon Menggatal headmaster Abd Kadir Abd Latif clarified that the presence of Inanam assemblyman Dr Roland Chia at the school’s Mini Kaamatan was not at the invitation of the school.
Abd Kadir made the clarification after a picture of Dr Roland with the event’s committee members with went viral in the social media, following which he was called a traitor to the ruling government by some Barisan Nasional supporters.
“For the past years serving as a government officer, I had never worked with or invited any parties that are against the government or its policies to officiate at any of the school events.
“The government policies have been the core of my career service, and I want to make it clear that Dr Roland, who is an opposition leader, was not invited by the school or me to attend the Mini Kaamatan,” he said.
The Mini Kaamatan organized by the Parent-Teacher-Association (PTA) of SK Tombongon Menggatal was held over two days at the Kampung Tombongon community hall.
On the final day of the event on April 28, the Unduk Ngadau, Sugandoi and reading competitions were attended by parents and villagers in support of the students. It was therefore beyond Abd Kadir’s knowledge that several parents of the students had invited Dr Roland to attend the event in support of their children who were competing.
The presence of Dr Roland at the event was, however and most unfortunately, misunderstood by some people, especially Barisan Nasional supporters of that particular area, after Sepanggar member of parliament Datuk Jumat Idris reportedly uploaded a picture of Dr Roland attending the event.
In Jumat’s Facebook account, he was said to have requested the Education Department to explain why an opposition leader was invited to officiate at an event organized by a school.
“Since the Mini Kaamatan is a small event organised by the school’s PTA, we did not invite any VIP to officiate, but I did officiate the event as the headmaster of the school.
“It was also clearly stated in the programme book that I was the guest of honour for the event, and Dr Roland was not there to officiate or launch the event. Dr Roland was not invited by the school and he was there at the behest of several parents of the students of the school.
“Therefore, how could we, as teachers, in upholding the fifth principle of the Rukun Negara – courtesy and morality – chase a guest away, even if he is not invited by the school?” he explained.
Abd Kadir hoped his statement will clear the air and appealed to netizens not to speculate and exaggerate as it will affect the image of school and education in the state.