KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) is hoping that the government would heed and abide by the people’s wish, and to make a ‘u-turn’ on the proposed implementation of the khat (jawi calligraphic script) in vernacular schools.
Its president, Tan Sri T.C Goh observed that in less than two years, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) led government had made several u-turns on some of its policies, after taking into consideration of the people’s views. He thus hoped the same can be applied to the khat controversy.
“We urge political parties from both sides of the divide, especially those in the ruling coalition, to strive to resolve this issue which is getting more and more intense by the day,” he urged in a statement issued today.
He also urged the Ministry of Education (MoE) to immediately conduct meeting and dialogue with the relevant civil society organisations (CSOs) including Huazong, the Chinese educationist group Dong Zong, and Seni Khat Action Team (Sekat), to deliberate on their resolutions to resolve the said issue.
At the National Congress on Jawi organized by Sekat on Sunday, seven resolutions were adopted 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 education; and postpone implementation of Jawi writing. The resolutions were expected to be submitted to the Education Ministry today (Monday).
Goh acknowledged that, as compared to the other controversial decision of the MoE requiring the students in government and government-aided schools to wear black shoes to school, starting next year, the Chinese and Indian communities are more resolute against the implementation of the khat in vernacular schools.
“Regardless of the colour of the shoes, it won’t affect the position of the Chinese primary schools and the autonomy of the school board, hence we can put the issue aside. But, the proposed implementation of the khat lesson will have a far-reaching impact on the national-type primary schools. Hence, the government should make a u-turn on this matter,” he said.
Meanwhile, he also expressed regret over the manner the conference over the introduction of Jawi in vernacular schools organized by Dong Zong was stopped on last Saturday, after police obtained a court order. He described it as a major setback to democracy in the country, besides a bad precedence of suppressing the CSOs from voicing the people’s views and plights.
Reminding that the present government came into existence with the people’s support, Goh reiterated that the stopping of the said conference was akin to suppressing the people’s views, and is definitely not something that the people aspired for under a ‘New Malaysia’.
He contended that in fact such an issue can be effectively put under control, just like how the National Jawi Congress was peacefully conducted on the following day, which also demonstrated the police’s professional capability in controlling and managing such event. He thus finds it puzzling as to why the Dong Zong’s conference was disallowed.
“With the new school term just around the corner, it has become even more urgent for the MoE to resolve the issue. Otherwise, it would create great inconvenience to the students and parents,” he said.
He thus reiterated his call urging the MoE to quickly address the issue through dialogue with the affected parties, instead of keeping quiet and ignoring the increasingly intense reaction of the CSOs.-pr/BNN
