KUALA LUMPUR: An Umno Youth leader has proposed a referendum to allow Malaysians to democratically decide whether there should be a reassessment of the vernacular education system.
Pokok Sena Umno Youth chief Mohd Farhan Ahmad said such referendums can be the key to resolving the debate surrounding vernacular schools.
"Open and constructive dialogue among all parties is crucial to find the best solution for the national education system.
"As a Malaysian citizen, I propose that we hold a referendum to allow Malaysians to choose between a 'single-stream' education system or a 'multi-stream' education system," he said in a statement today.
Farhan said that there is a need for debates that lead to better understanding rather than inviting polemics or extremism.
"We must understand that education is not something to be toyed with or turned into a 'political drama'," he added.
On Saturday, Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Salleh called for a reassessment of the vernacular education system amid growing concerns over the polarisation and lack of cohesion among the country's multi-ethnic population.
He claimed the assessment needed to be conducted as the escalating tension stemmed from a system of separation and segregation implemented from the most basic levels of society, starting from schools.
In response, MCA Youth secretary-general Saw Yee Fung said that debating the matter would challenge the Federal Constitution and the Federal Court's decision made on Feb 19.
Commenting on Saw's statement, Farhan acknowledged the courts decision, but insisted that it was not wrong to propose changes suitable for the current situation.
Hence, he stressed the importance of focusing on improving the education system for the benefit of all segments of society.
"As we know, we continually enhance our way of life by adapting technology that we never thought existed before for the betterment of society.
"We also debate in Parliament to amend laws or acts for the suitability of society or current circumstances," he added.
On Feb 19, two non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the Islamic Education Development Council (Mappim) and Confederation of Malaysian Writers Association (Gapena), failed in their legal bid to challenge the use of Tamil and Mandarin as medium of teaching and the validity of vernacular schools.
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