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©The Sun (Used by permission)
by Husna Yusop, Maria J.Dass, Tim Leonard and Opalyn Mok

PUTRAJAYA (Dec 2, 2008): Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak says the Government will continue preserving vernacular schools.

"The Government's policy is to ensure each individual gets to select the school of their choice, as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.We are committed in ensuring that Chinese and Tamil language schools remain in this country as long as the respective communities need them,," Najib said, after chairing a National Council Meeting in Perdana Putra here today.

Najib said this in response to Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir's call in Parliament yesterday that vernacular schools be closed down to foster greater unity.

"It is important for the Chinese and Indian communities to have these schools because it is where they instill values (in their children)," said Najib.

"The Chinese community, especially, has no uniformed religion, so the presence of these schools are important to instill values. Although the issue is debatable, the rights of each race to have their own language schools must be upheld.

"The National Education Policy based on the Razak Report had no deadlines, and the National Education System supported vernacular schools," he added.

In Parliament lobby, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong told reporters a single education system in schools that uses Bahasa Malaysia as the medium of instruction is not the only solution to the problem of polarisation amongst multi-racial Malaysians.

Vernacular schools, he said, do not hamper national unity, and the issue is not only about language, but more important is the understanding which must exist among the different races.

"I felt astounded with Mukhriz's statement. To suggest for one-system like in Singapore, it is an extraordinary and unconventional statement. According to the (Federal) Constitution, all Malaysians have the right to study their own mother tongue. This is nothing new.

"We have this multi-stream education system since Independence and for 50 years until now, we don’t see any problems. To say that vernacular schools affect national unity, I don’t think so.

"Being a SJKC product myself, it does not stop me from instilling unity spirit in myself as well as in my children. This issue should not be raised as we already have the current education system," said.

He said it is not right to think that it is unhealthy for students to learn in their native language as it would give an impression that Chinese and Tamil schools will disunite the people in a particular country.

"Just look at our neighbours, or in fact around the world. Even if the people were of the same skin colour or same religion, are they united? This is not the sole factor to promote national unity," Wee said, adding it is more important to strengthen the existing system which he said is actually a strength or an asset of the country.

Wee said many foreign academicians feel Malaysia is the best model as it produces tri-lingual generations, adding parents should have the right to choose which schools they want to send their children to.

Asked whether the ministry was rejecting Mukhriz's proposal, he said: "It was his personal suggestion. We do not only listen to one individual. We always hear this from time to time."

MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek says the freedom of choice in education to pursue mother tongue education is enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

He told reporters in MCA headdquarters that the party will object if the dual system is being replaced because it is very clear in the Constitution that there are guarantees for freedom of choice in education.

In GEORGE TOWN, Gerakan secretary-general Teng Chang Yeow labelled Mukhriz as in the same league as Datuk Ahmad Ismail by making such an irresponsible statement.

"It is irresponsible, it is disappointing to see such a young and promising Umno leader choosing to dance to the tune of racialism in order to garner support from his party grassroots," he said in a statement.

"The vernacular school system has nothing to do with Malay supremacy. It is those in Umno who found their popularity diminishing and now strive to stand tall in Umno that find Malay supremacy to be the best subject in creating their vocal identity under the cover of struggling for the Malays," he said.

He said the real issue facing the Malays, if at all, is not about controlling and becoming the master of the nation's economy.

"It is about how the economy and all other policies can benefit everyone, especially the rural poor and not only those who are well connected to Umno or to Umno divisional leaders," he said.

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