KUALA LUMPUR: Chinese educationist group Dong Jiao Zong has urged all quarters to end all legal challenges on the status of Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools.
Dong Zong president Tan Tai Kim hoped all parties would acknowledge the Court of Appeal's decision, which established the legal standing of vernacular schools, and refrain from further appeals.
"To avoid further division in society and the creation of more disagreements and contradictions, I hope that all can join forces to restore our diversity and inclusivity," he said in a press conference today.
Tan said the High Court ruled in Dec 2021 that Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools are constitutionally positioned under Article 152(1A) and (1B). Simultaneously, it does not prohibit or restrict the use of Chinese and Tamil.
"Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools have existed before the nation's independence, and it can be proved with the Registration of School Ordinance 1920. Vernacular schools were also listed in the Education Act 1996.
"The verdict today proved that vernacular education is a fundamental right of Malaysians under the Constitution, and it is significant in promoting multicultural coexistence," Tan said.
Tan believed that vernacular education not only offers students chances for learning and language acquisition but also widens their horizons, fostering enhanced understanding and respect for diverse cultures among pupils.
Echoing Tan, Jiao Zong president Cheah Lek Aee said criticism of vernacular schools being unconstitutional were baseless.
"It is evident that the allegations made by these groups and individuals are malicious, intending to deliberately provoke racial sensitivities, spread hatred, and disrupt the harmonious unity of the nation's various ethnic communities.
"The government must staunchly defend our existing diverse education system, as it symbolises our multi-racial national identity of Malaysia.
"We urge the government to take necessary actions to prevent any actions or speech undermining national unity, ensuring the rights of every citizen are safeguarded, irrespective of religion and ethnicity," Cheah said.
The efforts of four organisations to legally challenge the status of Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools faced setbacks today after the Court of Appeal ruled that using Chinese and Tamil languages as mediums of instruction is not against the Constitution.
The four organisations were the Islamic Education Development Council (Mappim), the Confederation of Malaysian Writers Association (Gapena), Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia, and Ikatan Guru-Guru Muslim.