Education activist not contesting as independent

MELAKA: Education activist Mak Chee Kin (pic) has decided against contesting as an independent for a state seat within the Kota Melaka constituency.

Mak, who is the chairman of the Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education (Magpie), made the decision to narrow the choice for votes to only two opposing political coalitions.

“I am not going to contest as an independent as I respect the wishes of Magpie members and voters who want a straight fight, he said.

Mak said his decision was also influenced by the manifestos of Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan, which both emphasised education.

Mak said he wanted to offer himself as a candidate to ensure there was a lawmaker in the state assembly who would champion education issues especially for students in urban schools.

While lauding both sides for putting priority on education excellence, Mak said pledges, including to build more secondary Tamil schools shouldn’t be made to entice voters.

Mak has been lobbying for the teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) since 2009.

He had been campaigning hard for the implementation of the Dual Language Programme (DLP) and in 2016, the Education Ministry allowed students in 13 Melaka schools to have the option to learn maths and science in English.

The DLP, which was announced during Budget 2016, allows selected schools to teach Science and Mathematics in English.