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
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