‘Patriotism not in one’s language’

Those who study in vernacular schools are loyal to country, says Wee

KUALA LUMPUR: The patriotism of those who studied in vernacular schools should not be questioned, said Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong.

He said those who study in Chinese should not be seen as being disloyal or love their country any less.

“Language is a medium of unity, but using the same language does not mean that we are united.

“The people must be able to have mutual respect, understanding and a sense of loyalty,” he said at a panel discussion on the vernacular education struggle.

Dr Wee said there were 1,293 Chinese primary schools in the country and 90% of Chinese parents sent their children to these schools.

However, he noted that there were also approximately 55,000 non-chinese students who were enrolled in Chinese schools and many of them were Malays.

“This means that Chinese schools are not only for the Chinese. It is for Malaysians,” Dr Wee said, urging the rakyat to celebrate unity in diversity.

He also noted that it was Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who had removed the controversial clause 21(2) in the Education Act 1961 during his tenure as Education Minister in 1996.

The clause empowers the Education Minister to convert a national-type school to a national school.

Dr Wee noted that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was the Education Minister before Najib, did not carry out the move then.

MCA Youth Education Bureau Chief Chong Sin Woon reminded the audience that they should not forget that Malaysia was a multiracial country despite the debate on Chinese education.

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman Institute of Chinese Studies dean Dr Ho Khai Leong and DAP Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong highlighted the challenges faced by the Chinese vernacular education system.

Among the challenges are the impact of globalisation, the proliferation of English as the main language of communication and the lack of teachers, schools and funding for the vernacular system.