KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching has welcomed the Federal Court’s decision to dismiss lawyer Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz’s leave application to pursue his constitutional challenge on the existence of vernacular schools in the country.
She expressed hope that the decision would stop other similar moves in the future.
“I hope there will be no more attempts to challenge vernacular schools.
“As had been mentioned by our leaders, vernacular schools should be an important asset to a diverse country like ours,” she told reporters in Parliament.
Teo also thanked the Attorney-General’s Chambers for defending vernacular schools in the Federal Court.
In his motion filed on Oct 23, Mohd Khairul Azam sought a declaration from the Federal Court that it was unconstitutional for Parliament to pass an amendment to Sections 17 and 28 of the Education Act 1996 for the continued existence of vernacular schools.
Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Azahar Mohamed said the Parliament could formulate laws on education as it was within its power.
Meanwhile, Rembau member of parliament Khairy Jamaluddin said: “Court is the best place to decide on the matter and it has been decided that the existence of vernacular schools was not a violation of the law.
“(And) the interpretation of the Federal Constitution can only be made by the court.”