FMT:
No plans to revamp vernacular schools, says Fadhlina
11 Mar 2024, 01:36 PM
Education minister Fadhlina Sidek says the government remains firm in upholding the Education Act, which recognises vernacular schools.
Education minister Fadhlina Sidek says the government remains firm in upholding the Education Act, which recognises vernacular schools.
Fadhlina Sidek said she was aware of the suggestion by Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh for a revamp of vernacular schools but maintained there was no need to do so at the moment.
PETALING JAYA: The government has no plans to revamp vernacular schools, says education minister Fadhlina Sidek.
She added that the ministry had taken on board a suggestion made by Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh recently for the government to do so, Bernama reported.
She said that any decision to revamp the education system must be based on provisions in the Education Act 1996.
“We hear those views, but as of today, the ministry stands firm on upholding the act.
“As I have stressed before, vernacular schools are recognised by the Education Act, and we will uphold that,” she told reporters at SK Saujana Putra, Kuala Langat, today.
Last week, Akmal called for the government to conduct a detailed evaluation of vernacular schools.
He said it was Umno Youth’s view that racial tension stemmed from segregation in the nation’s education system.
“It is time for Malaysia to put an end to this segregation and division,” he said.
“There is no shortcut to achieve unity. It is a long, winding and challenging road, but it begins with a single step,” Akmal said.
PETALING JAYA: The government has no plans to revamp vernacular schools, says education minister Fadhlina Sidek.
She added that the ministry had taken on board a suggestion made by Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh recently for the government to do so, Bernama reported.
She said that any decision to revamp the education system must be based on provisions in the Education Act 1996.
“We hear those views, but as of today, the ministry stands firm on upholding the act.
“As I have stressed before, vernacular schools are recognised by the Education Act, and we will uphold that,” she told reporters at SK Saujana Putra, Kuala Langat, today.
Last week, Akmal called for the government to conduct a detailed evaluation of vernacular schools.
He said it was Umno Youth’s view that racial tension stemmed from segregation in the nation’s education system.
“It is time for Malaysia to put an end to this segregation and division,” he said.
“There is no shortcut to achieve unity. It is a long, winding and challenging road, but it begins with a single step,” Akmal said.
***
Vernacular school row: Ramasamy hits out at UMNO Youth chief as “confused, childish and immature”
By Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy
THIS is my response to UMNO Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh’s “Mabuk Apa” swipe at me for questioning his superficial and racist remarks about the vernacular schools in the country.
I expected the UMNO youth leader Akmal to have responded rationally and maturely to my argument about the existence of the vernacular schools in the country.
Not surprisingly, he responded by saying that I might be mabuk (literally drunk) or “confused” about my defence of the vernacular schools.
He is trying to peddle the usual and mundane stereotype of racists and bigots that as an ethnic Indian I might have some proclivity towards alcohol.
A typical racist UMNO leader who cannot even engage in a normal debate about the vernacular schools and why the necessity for the government to review them. Such a confused, childish and immature character.
UMNO having lost virtually all Malay support is like a candle burning bright before the glare vanishes for good.
Dr Akmal calls himself an UMNO youth leader but what a tragedy for the misguided UMNO youth members to have leader like him to lead them stray on an important subject as the existence of vernacular schools in the country.
I challenge him to call for the closing down of the vernacular schools. I would like to know how his DAP friends would take this challenge.
I repeat my argument that the passion for the existence of the vernacular schools is fuelled by the ethnic and religious discrimination against the non-Malays that was perfected by UMNO in days when the Barisan Nasional (BN) was in power.
But unfortunately, UMNO’s misguided and misinformed leaders like Dr Akmal has no understanding of history, perhaps a distorted version of Malay hegemonic history.
By the way, the about-to-be-registered United for the Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) is not racially or ethnically defined. Unlike UMNO, the membership is open to all the races, particularly the disadvantaged and marginalised.
Is Dr Akmal afraid that if vernacular schools are not closed down in the near future, Malay enrolment might increase in the Chinese schools? – March 11, 2024
Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the Urimai (United Rights of Malaysian Party) Interim Council.
No comments:
Post a Comment