Pupils forced to eat in changing room

PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA - Pictures of pupils eating in a changing room during recess supposedly so as not to offend fasting Muslims have surfaced on Facebook.

The photos which have stirred up a controversy are said  to have been taken at Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Pristana in Sungai Buloh.

They show tables next to sinks and in front of shower stalls.

A parent, Gunesweri Kelly, sharing the photos on Facebook, said on Tuesday the changing room smelled because there was a toilet next door.

"As a mother I am in tears and sad. I need to help my child suffering in that room during the  break," she said.

She added that the school had not acknowledged her complaints.

Netizens  claimed that the school canteen was closed and cordoned off.

The issue is also becoming a hot topic on Twitter, with people using the hashtag #makandalamtoilet to air their concern.

Attempts to reach headmaster Mohamad Nasir Mohamad Noor have failed, as the landline number provided has been engaged since 2pm.

Deputy Education Minister II P Kamalanathan said: “We view the matter with gravity and we will take stern action to ensure it will not recur.”

He ordered SMK Seri Pristina to immediately remove the temporary eating place set up in its changing room.

"It has been done now," he Tweeted from his official account, @PKamalanathan.

"I have also asked the BPSH department to investigation why such a decision was made and why action should not be taken."

The Hulu Selangor MP said it was not the right thing to do.

He said the school could have appointed a temporary canteen operator to run operations during Ramadan.

"If the canteen is under renovation, a proper place should have been identified (to eat), surely not the changing room."