Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah
Dr Maszlee Malik
KUCHING: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah is questioning the sense of direction of Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik for proposing hotel pools be used by students for swimming lessons.
The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president said Maszlee should have just focussed on how to improve the national education system, the syllabus, proficiency in English, assistance for children from poor families and to repair of dilapidated schools instead of directing his focus on “school shoes, socks, barring opposition YBs from attending school functions and now, using hotel pools for
students”.
He said hotel pools are owned by private entities and meant for hotel guests and therefore not for schools students.
“Hotel guests will definitely not like the idea of sharing pools with ‘outsiders’. What has happened to our Minister of Education? Is he seeking cheap publicity or he just woke up on the wrong side of the bed?” Abdul Karim wondered.
Dr Maszlee was quoted yesterday as saying in Hulu Langat that, in a bid to promote water safety among children, hotels should allow schools to use their swimming pools.
The Education Minister said not all national schools have access to swimming pools to provide swimming lessons.
Therefore, he asked hotels to allow schools to use their pools as part of their corporate social responsibility efforts.
He made the remarks after the launch of a Life-Saving Skills Programme and Water Safety and Rescue Awareness Module for Malaysian Schools 2018.
Dr Maszlee said the move will enable more students to learn not only how to swim but also life-saving skills and increase safety awareness among them.
He said his ministry will discuss the suggestion with hotels soon.
Dr Maszlee said sports clubs were already providing their pools to students, and hotels would be providing more venues.
Right now, swimming and water safety activities are included in co-curricular activities for clubs, associations and uniformed bodies in schools.
The water safety awareness and rescue module would be taught from preschool up to upper secondary in national schools.