Dr Mah defends Chinese community's stance on khat in schools
By ALLISON LAI
PETALING JAYA: The Chinese community's protectiveness over the vernacular school system should not be mistaken as demeaning khat, says MCA deputy president Dr Mah Hang Soon (pic).
“In recent days, the Chinese community has found ourselves standing out to defend the identity of Chinese vernacular schools.
“We merely aim to safeguard the academic freedom of our schools as provided by the Federal Constitution, and do not have the slightest intention to demean khat,” he said in a statement Wednesday (Aug 7).
Dr Mah said that the issue should not be seen as a dispute between Muslims and non-Muslims, as it had never crossed the minds of the Chinese community to denigrate the Jawi calligraphy art.
“Earlier, the Dong Zong and Jiao Zong had also held a joint press conference to dispel any misinformation about their stance on khat - to caution against hasty implementation of new education policies.
“Please understand and empathise that Chinese vernacular schools constantly have it rough since the independence of our nation.
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“In recent days, the Chinese community has found ourselves standing out to defend the identity of Chinese vernacular schools.
“We merely aim to safeguard the academic freedom of our schools as provided by the Federal Constitution, and do not have the slightest intention to demean khat,” he said in a statement Wednesday (Aug 7).
Dr Mah said that the issue should not be seen as a dispute between Muslims and non-Muslims, as it had never crossed the minds of the Chinese community to denigrate the Jawi calligraphy art.
“Earlier, the Dong Zong and Jiao Zong had also held a joint press conference to dispel any misinformation about their stance on khat - to caution against hasty implementation of new education policies.
“Please understand and empathise that Chinese vernacular schools constantly have it rough since the independence of our nation.
“Hence, we tend to be extra-protective over our education system. In other words, there is no reason to doubt the intentions of the Dong Jiao Zong,” he said.
Dong Zong is the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia while Jiao Zong is the United Chinese School Teachers Association of Malaysia.
The educationist groups had on Monday (Aug 5) called on the government to defer the teaching of khat as part of the Bahasa Melayu subject for Year Four pupils from 2020 until all matters have been clarified.
Dr Mah also questioned if the khat issue was intentionally created by the Pakatan Harapan government as a way to “spark controversies and divert the people’s attention from other issues”, such as the broken promises, economic slowdown and undirected development.
He said DAP should stop trying to evade responsibilities and give the Chinese community “adequate assurances and some peace of mind.”
“After all, anyone would find it tricky to accept big and abrupt changes, and to many, the introduction of khat is a major syllabus change, triggering uneasiness within the community,” he said.
Together with the Chinese community, he also noted that MCA’s resolve to safeguard the quality of the vernacular school system is “clear as ice and strong as steel.”
“(Let us) not let irresponsible parties slander and lie their way into convincing anyone that we repudiate khat,” he added.
Dong Zong is the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia while Jiao Zong is the United Chinese School Teachers Association of Malaysia.
The educationist groups had on Monday (Aug 5) called on the government to defer the teaching of khat as part of the Bahasa Melayu subject for Year Four pupils from 2020 until all matters have been clarified.
Dr Mah also questioned if the khat issue was intentionally created by the Pakatan Harapan government as a way to “spark controversies and divert the people’s attention from other issues”, such as the broken promises, economic slowdown and undirected development.
He said DAP should stop trying to evade responsibilities and give the Chinese community “adequate assurances and some peace of mind.”
“After all, anyone would find it tricky to accept big and abrupt changes, and to many, the introduction of khat is a major syllabus change, triggering uneasiness within the community,” he said.
Together with the Chinese community, he also noted that MCA’s resolve to safeguard the quality of the vernacular school system is “clear as ice and strong as steel.”
“(Let us) not let irresponsible parties slander and lie their way into convincing anyone that we repudiate khat,” he added.
Most Corrupt Association.
ReplyDeleteBalls ? 😆😁😆
How come when Guanee (after de-fusing the situation with Teoh Nie Ching) try to be diplomatic and gentlemanly you don’t mention?
ReplyDeleteYou make it sound like MCA solved the khat problem when it was they who allowed the introduction of Jawi and other religious elements into our schools over the last 6 decades and causing our education standards to fall to such low standards.
Guanee and Nie Ching solved the problem by listening to the grassroots and also Sabah and Sarawak and conveyed it to the Cabinet on Wednesday. The cabinet then made the necessary adjustments to the policy. So DAP solved the problem from within the government, and did not have to jump and scream like they were still in opposition, that is WeeKaSiing’s job.
QUOTE
With khat being made optional in vernacular schools, Guan Eng says it's time to move on
Thursday, 08 Aug 2019
PETALING JAYA: Malaysians can now move forward after the Education Ministry decided that introduction of khat (Jawi caligraphy) in the Year Four Bahasa Melayu subject is optional for vernacular schools and not tested in exams, says Lim Guan Eng.
The DAP secretary-general said Malaysians from all walks of life should engage more with each other to understand the concerns that divide the people and the aspirations to unite them.
"Let us work together with full respect for diversity and appreciation for each other's differences that makes us stronger and more successful, " he said in a statement Thursday (Aug 8).
Earlier, Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik announced that Chinese and Tamil vernacular school teachers have the freedom to choose whether they want to teach khat.
Khat will now be reduced to three pages from the initial six.
Lim said that the DAP national leadership had a frank and open discussion with all of its elected representatives on Monday (Aug 5) on the ministry's decision to introduce khat in Chinese and Tamil primary schools without prior consultation with all stakeholders.
"This was conveyed to the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (Aug 7).
"The unhappiness of the non-Malay community and educationists in Chinese and Tamil primary schools, stemmed from what is seen by them as an unilateral decision taken by the ministry without any prior consultation with the stakeholders.
"Sabah and Sarawak have also expressed similar dissatisfaction.
"This has led to general suspicion and a trust deficit from the stakeholders in Chinese and Tamil primary schools, that there is a hidden agenda by the ministry, " said Lim, who is also Finance Minister.
Lim added that the Education Minister has denied such allegations and explained that the new syllabus introducing khat was formulated and decided by the previous government.
"The Education Minister had announced the decision of Cabinet that the introduction of khat would not be tested in exams and be made optional, " he said.
Lim acknowledged that the Cabinet's decision that khat be made optional will not please everyone including those from the non-Malay community, who requested that its implementation be deferred pending consultation with all stakeholders in Chinese and Tamil primary schools.
UNQUOTE
Lim GE did NOT solve the khat nonsense, it's still on
DeleteMCA is deliberately continuing to fan the khat issue by prodding and goading DJZ, which they fund and control.
DeleteThe 61 year old castrated eunuch finally grows marbles.
ReplyDeleteBersatu caused this khat issue, Sin Chew newspaper blew it up, Nie Ching and Guanee defused it as best possible.
Now MCA finally steps in and pretends to be the good guy when it was they who caused our education standards to drop over the last 60 years and so many religious elements creeped in.
Eunuchs MCA, including Wee Ka Siong, at the time acquiesced in the decision for Khat introduction into Vernacular schools in 2012...now wants to play hero.
ReplyDeleteHypocrisy. Not Balls.
dog with ball?
ReplyDeleteWith yr Photoshop skill mah!
DeleteIt's call riding on the horse when reaching the finishing line.
ReplyDeleteToo late. It smells of hypocrisy even as the Khat controversy is still not over so long as Khat and Jawi are not moved to be elective in subjects of Islamic Studies or Arts and Crafts.