MCA Youth: Punish those who want Chinese schools abolished

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 — MCA Youth demanded today that those pushing to abolish Chinese vernacular schools be punished under the Sedition Act, pointing out that the institutions were not the cause of racism.

The wing’s chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong charged today that such detractors should be accorded stern punishment for their suggestions clearly infringed provisions in the Federal Constitution.

“The status of the Chinese primary schools is enshrined under the Federal Constitution. As such, any call for the closure of Chinese primary schools is equivalent to challenging the constitution.

“MCA Youth will not compromise on this,” he said in his opening address at the wing’s annual general meeting in Wisma MCA here this morning.

The Deputy Education Minister added the party’s Education Bureau had already lodged a police report on the matter and hoped that the police would take swift action in the matter.

Wee was referring to a recent call by the Malays Consultative Council (MPM), a group made up of Malay rights non-governmental organisations including Perkasa, to abolish vernacular schools.

Despite the firestorm of insults thrown their way, the group insisted on its stand recently, claiming that their suggestion was to promote national integration.

It also pointed out that the concept of vernacular schools did not exist in other more developed nations.

Today however, Wee insisted that the government referred to the case of Sabah MP Mark Koding as a precedent to punish the group.

“In 1978, Sabah MP Mark Koding called for the closure of Chinese primary schools in Parliament. He was found guilty of sedition later.

“Thus, I urge the BN central leadership to accord similar punishment on those who utter such irresponsible statements.

“ We want to see those who destroy the peace of our nation on purpose to be punished adequately,” he said.

Wee pointed out that the government had never stopped parents from sending their children to national primary schools and had also supported the introduction of Chinese language classes in these schools.

“Besides, our country is a democratic one and it is up to the parents to decide which school to send their children to.

“The Chinese primary school is never a stumbling block for achieving national unity, and will not be one in the future,” he insisted.

Wee called on those who had the “foot-in-mouth disease” to stop blaming Chinese schools for racial problems.

“Chinese schools are not for your easy punching bag or scapegoat. I want to remind these people that the curriculum for the Chinese and national primary schools come from the same organisation, with the same guiding principles of education.

“The talents from Chinese primary schools are equally patriotic and peace-loving; and they understand the importance of being caring and helpful Malaysians,” he said.

Wee’s counterpart in Gerakan, Lim Si Pin agreed with the former, and said that Chinese schools should not be used as a “sore thumb” in matters regarding race relations.

“Whenever racial sentiments are raised, Chinese schools are blamed for promoting racism.

“We have already embraced their existence since Merdeka so why keep harping on this now?” he said.

He added that Malaysians should be proud of the existence of Chinese schools, instead of ashamed of it simply because such a thing did not exist in other countries.

“Is it not better when Malaysia has this unique situation where all the people in this country agree to having multiple languages of instruction in schools?

“This is unique... do not keep harping on it. We need to move forward. If you want to help the Prime Minister and 1 Malaysia, you should take what you have and move forward from there,” he said.