Why is Jennifer, Warisan limp on issue of Khat? asks MCA leader
MCA Sabah Wanita chief Dr Pamela Yong is confused over the statement of Assistant Education and Innovation Minister Jenifer Lasimbang on Khat.
Pamela was referring to Jennifer’s comment that the Sabah State government would follow National Education Policy including Khat, and Sabah would not object to the decision made by the Education Ministry to introduce the Jawi calligraphy in vernacular schools nationwide because “Sabah has little say in the matter”.
“Nowadays when I read the news, all these mixed messages that is being thrown around gets me somewhat confused,” said Pamela in a statement.
Earlier this month, she said Sabah DAP came up with a statement stating that it wanted the matter in Sabah to be left to Sabahans to decide. The statement was signed by two members of parliament, five assemblypersons and one appointed assemblyperson. They are Chan Foong Hin (Kota Kinabalu), Vivian Wong Shir Yee (Sandakan), Frankie Poon Ming Fung (Tanjung Papat), Phoong Jin Zhe (Luyang), Jimmy Wong (Sri Tanjung), Tan Lee Fatt (Likas), Calvin Chong (Elopura) and Ronnie Loh (appointed).
And following that, she said two reports with headlines, “Sabah PKR says no to compulsory Khat studies” and “Sabah PKR: Khat should be optional rather than mandatory”, PKR Sabah chairman cum Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew, said the learning of Khat should not be compulsory and that it be an optional subject, instead of forcing students to learn it.
“So which is it guys...? Seems like it has come to a point where national political parties the likes of DAP and PKR are rising to the challenge, championing the rights of Sabahans to determine their own fate while the Sabahbased party, Warisan, with its staunch slogan of ‘Sabah for Sabahans’ leading up to the GE14, is laying down their arms, limp and lifeless telling us that ‘Sabah has little say in the matter. So the State will follow the national education policy,” she said.
Like a ceremonial sword void of tests in the field, Pamela said the Sabah for Sabahan theme is indeed proving to be as hollow and shallow as she expected.
“The assistant minister also said, ‘she advised those against the policy to think of it as an opportunity to learn a new’ language’ instead of being overly emotional’.
“Speaking from my point view as a mother of four children who are attending vernacular schools - my children are learning Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin and, at home, if they can manage it, Hakka the dialect generally used by my family. If I have to opt for them to learn another language, I would rather they learn the language of our indigenous natives like the Dusun or Kadazan language which is the pride and joy of our multi-diverse Sabah!
“YB, it is not about being emotional, it’s about being practical and pragmatic about the whole matter! Simple as that!” she said.
Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) vice president Aloysius Siap said Jenifer’s statement had admittedly conceded that the Sabah government and its state Education Ministry are just a rubber stamp to policies by the federal government.
“But this is just the opposite of its party manifesto during the 14th General Election calling for restoration of Sabah autonomy,” said Aloysius.
“As a state assistant minister in charge of education, Jenifer has a duty and responsibility to speak up for Sabahans, voice out aspirations or grievances of the people instead of kowtowing to whatever decisions made by the federal ministry.
“When Warisan took over the Sabah government, the Chief Minister restructured the Sabah Cabinet by reviving the Education Ministry in an effort to take over education portfolio from the federal government as a devolution of power promised in the manifesto of the Pakatan Harapan coalition, which is now in power today.
“Sabah just lost its so-called autonomy by conceding without a fight,” said Aloysius.
He said that while many Kadazandusun Murut (KDM) parents wished their children could learn their “mother tongue” in vernacular schools, the Sabah Education Ministry should put more resources to strengthen the teaching of proper Kadazan language.
“The language is like our culture, if we as KDM, do not preserve our own language, who else will,” he contended.
Jenifer said on Wednesday that the State Education and Innovation Ministry would follow any directive given by the federal Ministry of Education on the teaching of khat in vernacular schools.
She said education is still under federal jurisdiction and whatever decisions made would have to be followed by the State.
“In terms of policies and directives, we have to listen to the federal ministry. However, further discussions on the teaching of khat, especially in vernacular schools, would need permission from the ParentsTeachers Associations before it can be implemented,” she said.