Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar says the government is not removing the images of Jesus, Mary or the Cross from mission schools.
"This is tradition and there is no reason why they should not be continued," he said in reply to a question by Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) in the Dewan Rakyat (Parliament) today.
Lim had repeatedly asked Noh why there was no explanation from Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein on the matter, raised by Syed Hood Syed Edros (BN-Parit Sulong) more than a month ago.
Syed Hood had, on Oct 29, said the board of directors of mission run schools were partially administered by churches in foreign countries.
"I was also made to understand that the application to build suraus in some of these schools had to go through the approval of these boards of directors since they are partially administered by the church. It shames me that the school administrations are still controlled by the church," he had said.
Syed Hood said he was made to understand that many Muslim parents sent their children to these schools and complained that sometimes the school started the morning with "church songs".
Datuk Mohamad Aziz (Sri Gading) interjected and declared: "I am not shocked at all. During the last Hari Raya, I was told by a father, when Aidilfitri was celebrated, these types of schools were not closed."
Later, in the Parliament lobby, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz , asked on the matter, said the public could lodge a police report if they are upset over the remarks.
"They can't make seditious remarks even though they have immunity as MPs. MPs are not above the Sedition Act. I am not going to condone any seditious statements made by anybody," he said.
Nazri said no one from the BN had complained about Syed Hood's call on the mission schools.