Media Statement Charles Santiago in Klang on Wednesday, 16^th April 2008: 

Legislate consultation mechanism for vernacular schools 

The DAP MP for Klang Charles Santiago welcomes Dong Jiao Zong's announcement that Deputy Education Minister Dr. Wee Ka Siong would set up a coordinating unit with DJZ to liaise on Chinese education affairs (Nan Yang Siang Pau, 14/4/08, Page A7).

However, Charles believes that the unit should be opened to all mother tongue education NGOs including Tamil Foundation and indigenous community representatives. It’s the Deputy Education Minister’s responsibility to solicit opinion from all communities which has been marginalized by the education policy.

The consultation mechanism is important and should be made law to affirm its position. Plenty of Chinese and Tamil school problems result due to a lack of meaningful consultation. This leads to disagreements, misunderstandings and even protest.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) has taken a good approach that resolves vernacular school problems premised on discussions and consensus instead of making decision in a unilateral manner. MOE should regulate the consultation mechanism which he believes is within the ministry’s jurisdiction.

The proposed coordinating unit should not overly -concentrate on administrative conflicts and intervention. The main tasks should be to build sufficient vernacular schools, adequate and sufficient allocations, abolish the discriminating fully-subsidized and half-subsidized policy, review the policy of English as teaching medium for mathematics and science, re-open of SRJK (C) Damansara.

Participation of affected communities is vital, for instance Chinese Community in Johor Bahru, Kulai and Klang Valley. DJZ’s report has indicated, according to school planning guideline drafted by Department of Town and Country Planning, Ministry of Housing and Local Government, Klang Valley lacks 98 Chinese primary schools. For Klang alone, seven Chinese primary schools and at least two Tamil schools need to be built to accommodate the growth in the number of students. As Parliamentarian for Klang, Charles is willing to join the coordinating unit as Klang’s representative.

Multi-ethnic and multi-culturism are critical assets of Malaysia. The government should cherish the legacy by promoting multi-culturism.

The Barisan Nasional government has to learn the lesson of the 12th general elections. The rakyat is ready to accept an alternative government which promotes, pluralism, freedom and openness as portrayed the Pakatan Rakyat. The BN government needs to change its policies by revamping the education policy, and embracing multicuturism for the good of the country.

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* Charles Santiago, MP for Klang