Muslim pre-school teachers, MP speak out against ‘unfair’ comments
Member of Parliament Zaqy Mohamad speaking to teachers at the breaking-of-fast session at PCF Sparkletots pre-school yesterday. Photo: Najeer Yusof
SINGAPORE — After news broke that an infant care assistant had been detained for being radicalised, the head of a childcare centre provider saw Facebook comments that “instilled hatred” and also called for pre-school professionals to take psychological tests before entering the sector.
The comments included criticism of the family of Syaikhah Izzah Zahrah Al Ansari — the first female in Singapore to be detained for being radicalised — for not reporting her to the authorities. They also questioned the teachings of mosques here.
“I felt that it (the case) was just a one-off (incident), and it shouldn’t be affecting the rest of the practitioners in the sector ... There was a need to correct the (perception), however, I didn’t think it (Facebook) was a good platform to respond yet,” said Ms Zaiton Mohd Ali, from Iyad Perdaus Child Development.
She was one of about 80 pre-school practitioners from four pre-schools in Chua Chu Kang GRC who attended the breaking-of-fast session organised by its Member of Parliament, Mr Zaqy Mohamad, at the People’s Action Party Community Foundation (PCF) Sparkletots Preschool at Keat Hong Close yesterday.
On Monday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced that Izzah, 22, had been detained for becoming radicalised. She had worked at the PCF Sparkletots pre-school in Tampines East before she was detained this month under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the event, Mr Zaqy said the incident has unfortunately put the spotlight on pre-school practitioners, and such online comments were unfair to them. “If you look at most of the pre-school teachers, many come with the motivation to serve and raise young children,” he added.
On comments that more should be done to detect earlier signs of radicalisation, he said this should not be directed only at the pre-school sector.
“We just have to be vigilant across the board — what we need are stronger networks within the community,” said Mr Zaqy.
Another pre-school teacher said while some of her peers are concerned about the potential backlash on Malay-Muslim pre-school practitioners, they are also aware that this is an isolated incident.
Ms Nuraini Fadhilah, 31, said: “We are all on the same (side) … we condemn all this (radicalisation).”
Meanwhile, calling the self-radicalisation of Izzah, its former employee, a “serious matter”, the PCF assured yesterday that its teachers and staff were fully committed to caring for the children at its centres.
“Our PCF teachers and care staff remain fully committed to their work. Our priority is the children in our centres,” PCF CEO Victor Bay said in a statement.
“I hope we will not let the actions of this individual affect our perceptions and divide our society,” he added.
When approached by TODAY, the principal of the centre where Izzah worked, Ms Daisy Yeo, and several staff declined to comment yesterday.
