Murid enggan duduk sebelah rakan lain agama, dakwa Ahli Parlimen

Sarawak MP Willie Mongin has raised concerns over the lack of interfaith tolerance among children, citing a recent case of a teacher complaining about the difficulty in educating today's young generation. In the House of Representatives, MP Mongin said, "There are children who refuse to sit next to classmates of a different faith due to religious reasons, such as eating pork or not sitting with them because they wear a cross."

He cautioned that if this issue is not addressed in primary school, it may escalate into a severe problem. The MP then asked the national unity minister about the steps the government is taking to strengthen digital literacy, critical thinking, and interfaith understanding, especially among youths and children. MP Mongin emphasized that such initiatives are crucial in curbing the spread of fake news, stereotypes, and provocative content before they spark social conflict and controversy related to the 3Rs (race, religion, and royal institution).

Responding to the question, National Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang clarified that a comprehensive government approach is being taken to address these sensitive issues. "Of course, this effort must start at the grassroots level, in schools, where children can interact with one another regardless of race, religion, or culture," he said.

The minister also quoted the Internet Safety campaign of the Communications Ministry, promoting responsible social media usage, alongside the role of the National Information Distribution Centre (Nadi) through its 1,097 branches nationwide. According to him, the Ministry of Unity carries out various programs through its integrated departments.

"These include education and unity-building programs such as the Unity Integration Movement, Student Integration Network, Harmony Footprints, Youth Rukun Negara Journey, and Harmony Wacana. All these programs aim to ensure children and youths interact honestly and promote unity," the minister stated.