PETALING JAYA: The National Congress on Jawi will take the Education Ministry to court if it refuses to discuss or engage in a dialogue session on the implementation of the khat (jawi calligraphic script) in vernacular schools.
The legal action would be the final step to be taken if the dialogue session sought by various quarters on the issue was not given attention by the ministry.
The secretary of Seni Khat Action Team (SEKAT) Arun Doraisamy said the congress would not only initiate legal action but would also see the participation of various other non-governmental organisations (NGO).
“We do not want to take this matter to court but in the event the dialogue with the Education Ministry does not transpire, than this is the approach that would be taken.
“If this matter is taken to court, we want the legal representation to be joined by other NGOs as this is a national issue,” Arun said at a press conference after conclusion of the National Jawi Congress today.
Arun also revealed that the congress had received a positive feedback from the Education Ministry for discussion in a bid to resolve differences.
“In fact, Education Ministry officers have contacted us and we have set an appointment with them for a meeting as soon as possible as they too feel that this issue has stretched long enough and needs to be resolved soon.”
Arun said the congress could be considered a success as more than 1,000 participants attended.
“What was more meaningful was the presence of our Malay siblings (NGOs who backed the implementation of Jawi) to listen for themselves the reason the congress was held,” he said.
The congress adopted seven resolutions which among others includes objecting to the implementation of Jawi writing without consultation, opposing the application of Jawi in Bahasa Malaysia which is compulsory subject to pass, Jawi to be made an elective subject, uphold Bahasa Melayu as the national language, enact an act to make the national language supreme, uphold vernacular and mother tongue, and postpone implementation of Jawi writing.
The resolutions would be submitted to the Education Ministry tomorrow.
The congress saw the presence of social columnist Professor Dr Mohd Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi and social activis Siti Kasim.