Outdated government directives and circulars such as the one compelling those who want to form non-Muslim clubs in schools to first seek permission from the Education Department should be revoked, said Gerakan vice-president Datuk Mah Siew Keong.

Datuk Mah said these directives were absolutely unnecessary and it has caused anxiety amongst students, parents as well as various religious groups in Malaysia.

“Our federal constitution guarantees freedom of religion and the first principle of our Rukun Negara also states “Believe in God”, therefore it is improper to place restrictions or condition on anyone wanting to form religious clubs or societies in schools for non-Muslim students to learn universal religious values,” he said.

He appealed to Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Education Minister, to consider the request to cancel the said controversial circular.

“What we afraid is that if this controversial circular is not revoked now, later other “little Napoleons” would again cause problem in our schools and society ,” he explained.

Mah said revocation of such circulars would also stop allegations that the government wanted to put unnecessary hindrance to initiatives to hold religious education and activities in national schools that promote universal moral values

Mah was commenting on the confusion over a Selangor education department circular dated Dec 16, 2000 that stated any established Non-Muslim Religious Club in any school was allowed to continue operation.

In response to the confusion, Muhyiddin gave an assurance that non-Muslim societies that had been in operation before year 2000 in schools would not be shut down.

“You can take my word for it,’’ he said.

Muhyiddin said the ministry did not issue any directive to close down such clubs.

Muhyiddin said the circular was released by the Selangor Education Department a long time ago to compel new clubs to register with the department.

He said established clubs could operate as usual.

“Existing clubs such as Hindu or Buddhist societies can continue. There is no problem,’’ he said after opening the Rural Entrepreneurship Carnival at Bukit Jalil sports complex last Saturday.

Klang High School operators had claimed that the education department had ordered them to dissolve its Christian Union, Kelab Agama Hindu and Kelab Agama Buddha that were established way back in 1969.