From The South China Morning Post, HK 17th May 2000

IAN STEWART in Kuala Lumpur

The dominant government party, the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), intends to carry its political message into kindergartens.

This was made clear by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who has admitted that opposition parties have been successful in winning the support of many young people.

Dr Mahathir's concern was reflected by his attendance on Monday at a National Youth Day rally in Pahang state where he urged young Malaysians to develop goals that would help the country progress.

Yesterday he addressed a National Teachers Day meeting in Perak state, calling on them to instil spiritual and cultural values in students "to promote a dignified society".

He said the Government had to "get close" to teachers who were "instigating students" to turn against the authorities. "We have to contact these teachers and find out their problems, what are the reasons which compel them to pawn our children's future," he said. "Disliking certain quarters should not drive us to attempt to thwart and destroy the future of the nation and the race."

He said the Government had no desire to resort to indiscriminate disciplinary action against teachers - except in extreme cases.

"Teachers should have no problems with the Government," he said. "We have treated them very well and have even paid them salaries for posts which did not exist. What else must we do?"

Dr Mahathir's remark about kindergartens was made when he launched a new Overseas Umno Clubs Alumni Society in Kuala Lumpur. He said the party was looking for people who would visit young Malaysians studying abroad to prevent them from falling under the influence of "certain groups" and guiding them "back on the right path".

Dr Mahathir said Umno could not continue with the old way of having students just focus on their studies. Many had "turned against those who helped them" and joined opposition clubs. He said the party must make an effort to familiarise the students with national politics so that they would "not be easily influenced" by opposition groups.

"From now on, we will cultivate closer rapport in schools, in kindergartens even, rather than just in universities, as there have been elements of instigation [by opposition supporters] in kindergartens too," Dr Mahathir said. "If this is left unchecked, Malaysians will end up without good values and harbouring animosity [towards the Government]."