YOURSAY 'Let us not delve further into the present issue, let us not bay for blood. Yati Dani has said she is sorry. So be it, let us move on.'

Principal apologises to students during assembly

Ferdtan: SMK Alam Megah principal Yati Dani by apologising to the students for her error shows that she is a true Muslim. We are only human and sometimes we make mistakes; and when we did, we apologise.

This is so unlike the other case (shower room canteen) when the culprit HM (headmaster) of the school, intentionally or not, had prolonged the controversy, not only by denying his action but getting his supporters to play politics. A simple apology like Yati Dani would have ended the issue.

In this holy month for Muslims, Yati Dani had asked for forgiveness. Isn't that what Islam is all about? Most Muslims during Hari Raya greeted each other "Maaf zahir dan batin." It is " I seek forgiveness (from you) physically and spiritually ."

Don't you think these three Malay words are so humbly meaningful? Then why are the Umno leaders and the wrongdoers not following the right path?

Yati's gesture brings tears to our eyes. She could have denied the allegation easily and many Umno and racist leaders would have jumped in to support her and thus making her a ‘heroine' in the process. However, she did not.

Our country needs real reconciliation between different races and religions. We call upon all ambitious Umno leaders, starting from Dr Mahathir Mohamad to our top echelons of government ministers, not to hold the whole nation to ransom in their dangerous religious and racial game to win posts in the coming Umno election.

Finally, Yati, you can hold your head high. You have our respect; it is the way you positively response to the problem (not the issue itself) that will forever defined who you are.

BTN: I believe for the majority of Malaysians, we do accept that people make mistakes and we are forgiving.

We are all caught in a dilemma as our faith in Malaysians is being challenged by the government, which is making things difficult with their double standard handling of issues relating to race.

If this trend continues, there will be deeper mistrust between the races of this country and to those who sow the seed of mistrust, they will be the winner - not the country nor the people.

Cala: Yati Dani erred because she uttered those words publicly. I am sure many in her position would have said something to that effect due to their subconscious minds having been indoctrinated by the National Civics Bureau (BTN), although they may not do so in public.

We are all pendatang - Malays, Chinese and Indians. The difference is in the relative period of being on this soil. For social cohesion, it is politically wrong to ask another ethnic group to go back to their ancestral land.

Pa  tri  ot  ic: So she apologised and everything is now okay? The bak kut teh couple also apologised but still have to go to jail? Where's the logic? Why the double standard?

Anonymous #708871335: I don't think, the comparison with Alvivi applies. Alvivi's actions were contrived, deliberate and offensive to Islam, while the HM's was a spur of the moment anger which she appears to have repented.

However, I don't believe the Alvivi couple should have been remanded without bail. They should get a fair hearing in court. Let us not forget that Alvin Tan's Asean scholarship was withdrawn by Singapore for a deliberate sex posting.

Alvivi is out for adventure and if guilty intent can be proven in the bah kut teh case, he should be punished.

Odin: Puan Yati Dani has apologised in front of all her pupils. Let us show we non-Muslims are magnanimous by accepting it. Remember, not one of the others has done that.

If we harp about the Alvivi couple's apology being not accepted, then we are no better than those despicably bigoted Muslims.

iwatch: At last, she summoned the courage to apologise at the school assembly to the pupils and parents.

However, the State Education Department should immediately issue a stern warning to all headmasters and teachers that this is not a matter of apology to close the matter, but not to repeat the incident in the future otherwise their service will be terminated immediately.

Pisang Goreng: She apologised. In front of the children she leads. That takes courage. Who are we to judge if it is sincere or not. Why compare to those who have yet to apologise? Let's take whatever good that has come out and use it to build peace.

Peacemaker: Let's accept Yati Dani back into our fold instead of continuing to berate her. The woman made a mistake and apologised. She didn't try to make excuses.

Come on sisters, let's accept her back, love her and give her a chance. Let's also not forget our own vulnerability to make mistakes.

LittleGiant: Civil servants in our country rarely apologise for their mistakes and shortcomings. But when an apology is made with sincerity, it must be accepted in good faith and with an open heart. I feel the Education Ministry need not take any action against the principal.

Strait Settlement: All those non-Muslims who forgive and forget the greater agenda of the Umno ultras are like lambs for the slaughter.

Liew Lean Kut: To forgive is divine, let's move on and concentrate on other important matters, like reprimanding elected representative for making racial remarks, especially DPM Muhyiddin Yassin and Selangor Umno chief Noh Omar.

These people at the top should set an example for the rakyat to follow, but instead they are stoking the flames of racism.

Cogito Ergo Sum: While it is some concession apologising, the root cause of the headmistress outburst is frightening. It belies a deep-rooted racial prejudice against other races that has been inculcated into our culture.

The government not only tolerates such prejudice, but by being silent on similar outbursts by the likes of Perkasa luminaries, it is actually encouraging such feelings.

This sort of behaviour is rampant and is even being fanned by such institutions like Utusan Malaysia and other state apparatus. It is sad indeed.

Muhyiddin can learn a thing or two from 'cikgu'

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