KUALA LUMPUR: MCA says DAP’s silence over the issue of vernacular schools raises questions as to whether they agree with a suggestion to abolish them.
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said DAP leaders such as Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng and Teo Nie Ching should speak up and make their stand clear on the matter.
“Is this what you want? Be frank,” he said at the parliament lobby here today.
He was responding to yesterday’s Kongres Maruah Melayu (Malay Dignity Congress) where one of the speakers suggested that vernacular schools be abolished gradually.
“I’m shocked that this was organised by universities and the key persons are (Education Minister) Dr Maszlee Malik and (his deputy) Teo Nie Ching. Why are they so quiet?
“This was organised by four educational institutions. What is your (Teo’s) stand?
“I hope members of the media can ask the greatest leaders like (Finance Minister) Lim Guan Eng or his father (DAP adviser) Lim Kit Siang to give some comments
“They have to answer. They cannot remain silent. It is not right,” he said.
The Ayer Hitam member of parliament also said it was not right for anyone to criticise the current education system, saying that the existence of vernacular schools had helped with unity as more than 20 per cent of students were non-Chinese.
“A lot of people say there’s something wrong with the vernacular schools but just compare me with Guan Eng or other DAP leaders.
“I’m from a Chinese school. What’s wrong with me?
“I can speak better Bahasa Malaysia than them. So don’t simply blame the education system,” he said.
Yesterday, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris’ physical education graduate Nurul Fatin Aqilah Rahim who presented on the education cluster at the Congress called for the gradual abolition of vernacular schools which she said must be completed by 2026.
“Vernacular schools do not promote unity as they use their respective mother tongues as the main language.
“Instead, the Vision School Policy (Dasar Sekolah Wawasan) should be enhanced in stages.
“The resolution for vernacular schools to be abolished in six years is fitting so that the language and curriculum can be standardised,” she said.