Lawyers appointed in case against vernacular schools

LEADING Chinese education group Dong Jiao Zong has appointed a team of lawyers to study the court case on vernacular schools, China Press reported.

Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) vice-president and lawyer Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz last week filed a notice of motion at the Federal Court to challenge the legality of vernacular schools, questioning why the national language was not used as a medium of instruction in vernacular schools since they were funded by the government.

Dong Jiao Zong said vernacular schools were established before the country’s independence and that the schools were protected under the Education Act 1996 and allowed to be established in Malaysia.

In a statement on Tuesday, it said many political leaders had contributed to vernacular schools and added that parents from different races had the right to send their children to vernacular schools.

It also said vernacular schools were a valuable asset and advantage to the diverse Malaysian society.

The group said major Chinese organisations would meet on Nov 9 to discuss the next course of action.

> The foundation of Hong Kong’s richest man Li Ka-shing has announced that small and medium eateries in the semi-autonomous territory will be the first beneficiaries of his HK$1bil (RM533mil) donation, Oriental Daily reported.

Of the amount, HK$200mil (RM107mil) will be used to support the food and beverage industry.

Eligible small and medium eateries will each receive HK$60,000 (RM32,000) “emergency cash”, which will be disbursed before the end of November.

The food and beverage business has suffered a 30% plunge in business and some 200 eateries have closed with job losses in the past two months. Legitimate concerns employing fewer than 50 people are eligible for the funds.