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2: 4:3 formula controversy: Repeat call to the Prime Minister to convene two- day emergency, special parliamentary debates


Media Statement
by
Kerk Kim Hock

(Petaling Jaya, Thursday): Following Dong Jiao Zong 's declaration of their clear stand opposing the 2:4:3 formula, I wish to hereby repeat my call to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamed to convene two day emergency Parliament meetings so as to allow all Members of Parliament to have a thorough debate on controversy.

Dong Jiao Zong is the most representative and authoritative educationist movement on Chinese educational matters. This is a fact recognized and accepted by the Chinese community. Thus, government leaders must respect and understand the stand taken by Dong Jiao Zong as well as the justifications of their stand.

It is therefore most disappointing and totally unfair for the Malay newspapers and Barisan Nasional leaders to wage ferocious attacks on Dong Zong. instead of trying to understand their stand.

In fact, it is obvious that all sectors support the move by the Prime Minister to lift the level of English proficiency among our students. Malaysians do not have disagreement here. What is disputed is only the way as to how to achieve the government's objective.

It is thus unnecessary, deplorable and unacceptable for anyone to try to racialise or policise the issue as an attempt to try to stifle open, rational and meaning discussions on the 2: 4: 3 formula or to silence opposition to such a formula.

It is also unwise and self-deceiving for Barisan Nasional leaders to say that Dong Jiao Zong only represent the minority and refuse to have a dialogue with them.

Educational policies play a very important role in the nation-building process. The culture of a race, the prosperity of the nation and the unity of its people can be afftected by a nation's education policies. The success or otherwise of an education policy can also affect the future of a nation.

Hence, when the 2: 4: 3 formula has become a great controversy and evoked intense reactions, the right step that the government should take is to convene a national conference of all political parties, educational bodies and educationists with the objective of seeking consensus and finding a formula that is educationally sound and which can be implemented in the least divisive way.

Alternatively, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad should convene two-day emergency parliament meetings so as to allow the MPs, the representatives of the people, to have thorough debates on the controversy.

Such emergency special parliamentary debates is most necessary and timely as this will be a way too for the government to fulfill its two earlier assurances:

1.. that the government would listen to views from all parties
2.. that the government would approach the issue from educational point of view

Till today, it has been proven that before and after the Barisan Nasional made its decision on the 2: 4: 3 formula, DAP and Dong Jiao Zong's views were not sought.

Although the government had assured that it would approach the issue from an educational point of view, the 2:4:3 formula is actually a product of political compromise of the Barisan Nasioanal component parties and there is great suspicion about whether the formula is educationally sound.

(14/11/2002)


* Kerk Kim Hock , DAP Secretary General and MP for Kota Melaka