The Peninsular Malay Students Federation (GPMS) said the event was not the first held in a school and was not wrong to remind people of Umno’s contributions to the country’s independence.
“The teachers and students were not forced to carry out the programme, seeing they had no problem with it and sang the Umno song with enthusiasm,” GPMS president Zamri Mohd told FMT.
“The event was merely to celebrate independence and a historical fact.”
A news report said hundreds of teachers and students of the Sekolah Kebangsaan Putrajaya Presint 14(1) took part in a class decoration and performance competition which carried the theme “Umno and independence #Negaraku”.
Umno flags were evident in the school compound, while students waved small flags and sang the Umno song.
At one point, according to the report, a banner with the words “Hidup Umno, Hidup Melayu. Dulu, Kini dan Selamanya” (Long live Umno, long live the Malays. Then, now and forever) was displayed on stage.
Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, who was there to give away prizes to winners of the competition, in his speech urged the teachers to join Umno.
The explicit display drew sharp criticism from some sections of the public.
National Human Rights Society chairman Ambiga Sreenevasan accused Tengku Adnan of introducing politics in a school.
“Students must not be forced to take part in partisan politics in schools. This clearly shows Umno is desperate.”
Parent Action Group for Education (Page) chief Noor Azimah Rahim urged the education ministry to reprimand the principal for allowing the school to be used for a political purpose.
Noor Azimah Rahim said the principal was supposed to protect the school against abuse by politicians but it was obvious the children were turned into political tools.
Education consultant Tan Ai Mei said such an incident should not be repeated.
Zamri, however, said school principals were allowed to hold positions in political parties.
“I feel there is no problem here,” he said.
He rejected the accusation that the event was a sign of Umno’s desperation to win support.
“Students can’t vote. Singing the Umno song is just to help them to know what is Umno. We also don’t force teachers, it’s up to them to make their choice,” he said.