Osman said that the letter was not an order prohibiting schools from joining the state’s Merdeka Day events, but rather to have them wait for the ministry’s decision. — AFP pic

GEORGE TOWN, Aug 21 — All schools in Penang have been directed not to participate in Merdeka Day celebrations here without the Education Ministry’s approval, owing to the state government’s selection of “Bersih” as this year’s theme.

The directive was contained in a circular sent to all headmasters in the state and signed by Penang state education director Datuk Osman Hussain.

“It is hereby informed that all schools are directed not to join any celebration or parade for the 58th Merdeka Day organised by the state government until there is further instruction from the Education Ministry,” read the letter dated August 20.

The circular added that a subsequent letter dated July 24 was now rescinded, although the contents of the earlier notice are not immediately known and the reason for the prohibition was also not contained in the letter.

But Osman told Malay Mail Online today that the letter was not an order prohibiting schools from joining the state’s Merdeka Day events, but rather to have them wait for the ministry’s decision.

“The state's theme, Bersih, is a sensitive theme; we are under the federal government so we need to get the federal's approval first, we are not under the state,” Osman told Malay Mail Online.

"It's not a directive telling schools not to participate, but telling them to wait for approval," he insisted.

The theme Putrajaya selected for this year’s celebrations is #SehatiSejiwa (One heart, one soul).

Penang, in turn, has chosen Bersih, which is similar to the nationwide rallies for free and fair elections organised by electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 at the end of this month.

"All schools are already celebrating Merdeka whole month long from Aug 1 and they are told to organise Merdeka celebrations from August 16 onwards at school levels, so it's not that they are not celebrating Merdeka," Osman said further.

While continuing to stress that the letter was not an order barring schools from participating, Osman pointed out that school bands made up nearly half the performances in the state’s Merdeka Day parade, which he said would be paralysed without the students.