Maszlee's black shoe still making waves: Now its all colours?

Malaysia’s new government introduced the black shoe in schools. For generations the primary and secondary school students were using white shoes.

This change in shoe colour did not go down well with the public. They called it the useless ‘shoe reform’. The people expected major reforms not that of the colour of the school shoes!

The minister, Maszlee Malik has since resigned (Jan 5) and Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is the new interim Education Minister.

He says in his view, the school shoe colours should not be a problem as he feels students can use any colours they want.

With such a liberalisation, it will be great to see what students wear.

But this is only his personal idea, and the Malaysia school shoe colour dilemma is still on going.

CONFUSED STUDENTS?

The students are confused and they do not know if they can wear brown, black, grey or white school shoes.

And the first reformist education minister in Malaysia got a backlash for changing the shoe colours from white to black.

Nevertheless, the all colours shoe for the schools will be a bit confusing for some students, but it may also spark creativity among others.

However, do not take it for granted. The PH government is still looking into the shoe colour.

A circular by the education ministry directed all schools nationwide to carry out a survey.

The survey is to find out how many students were happy wearing black shoes.

A Jan 14 letter from the ministry to all state education departments went viral.

The survey is supposed to tell the number of students enrolled in the school, and the number of students wearing black shoes and white shoes respectively.

It is incredible that even after Maszlee, the PH regime is still lingering on the shoe colours.

In 2018, Maszlee said the education ministry would allow students to wear black shoes and socks in schools from 2019, before its full implementation in 2021.

JAWI-KHAT CONTROVERSY

In the 17-paragraph letter, Mahathir says Maszlee did not listen to advice, and on several occasions, went against cabinet decisions.

It says the minister has made it difficult for Putrajaya, putting the government in a tough position.

The letter also says Maszlee has failed to follow advice on the Jawi issue, free internet service for schools and free breakfast programme for pupils.

The Malaysian ministry of education introduced Islamic calligraphy in non-Malay schools. This raised the ire of non-Muslims in the country. Though not all of the non-Muslims are angry, a majority seem unhappy with the decision.

They do not know why they should learn ‘Islamic’ calligraphy in schools when they will not use it in real life.

MASZLEE QUIT

Dr Mahathir wanted to split the education ministry but Maszlee resisted.

“It is now time for Yang Berhormat (Maszlee) to withdraw from the cabinet,” Dr M wrote.

Maszlee’s trouble started when he reformed the colour of the shoes at schools, from white to black.

He also introduced the Jawi or Khat (Islamic calligraphy) in vernacular schools, which enraged the non-Muslims in general.

The Jawi/Khat was to be introduced by the Barisan Nasional regime but they lost and Maszlee thought it was a good idea.

It then started to pit Malay nationalists against Chinese chauvinists.

The pressure was too much and Maszlee became the first Pakatan Harapan coalition minister to quit!