No Merdeka Celebrations At State-Level For Penang Schools

No more 'Bersih, Cekap, dan Amanah' for Penang National Day celebrations

After a bold move of challenging the federal government's National Day theme and coming up with their own, 'Bersih, Cekap, dan Amanah', Penang has finally decided to switch back to Putrajaya's 'Malaysia, Sehati, Sejiwa'.

Lim Guan Eng lamented that the decision was made to preserve the age old tradition of the Armed Forces' salute to the Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas, stressing that it is crucial for the Armed Forces to participate in the celebrations.

Image via The Star Online

Earlier today, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar insisted that the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) is also boycotting the Penang National Day celebrations as their theme differs from the standardized, federal government's theme, 'Malaysia, Sehati, Sejiwa'.

Image via The Star Online

21 AUG: Students in Penang will not be able to participate and celebrate Merdeka at state-level this year after the Ministry of Education has banned them from doing so

Letter from the Ministry of Education

Image via The Malaysian Insider

Penang's theme contradicts the federal theme, Osman says

Penang state education director Osman Hussain

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"Bersih" is a sensitive word

Deputy Chief Minister (II) Prof P Ramasamy

Image via The Malay Mail Online

"Be professional", Penang's Merdeka celebrations organising committee chairman Law Choo Kiang says

Law Choo Kiang

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Deputy Education Minister P. Kamalanathan has defended the move to ban Penang schools from the state-level celebration because it is harmful to the country's interest

Deputy Education Minister P. Kamalanathan

Image via Kuala Lumpur Post

Netizens have commented that they see nothing wrong with the slogan and criticised the government's decision

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