Yesterday while speaking at a “national unity” forum the former Director of Education Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Arshad had asked for all Chinese and Tamil schools to be closed.
He reasoned that these schools hinders national unity and by closing down and ensuring all children go to National schools will further integrate the various races in the country. This piece of news is widely reported in the main Tamil papers.
Mother tongue education is a right under the constitution. Studies shows a child learns better and do well in studies if the child studies in one’s own mother tongue.
Presently there are 7,709 Chinese schools with a student population of over 600,000 and 523 Tamil schools with a student population of nearly 110,000.
Many parents send their children to Chinese or Tamil schools for a variety of reasons. Cultural and religious reasons are the main primary reasons not over looking the commercial relevance of mother tongue Education.
Presently nearly over 50,000 Bumiputra students follow their education in Chinese schools. The main reason is the commercial world now require one to be proficient in Mandarin.
Malaysia is a multi cultural, multi religious and multi lingual country. We need to harness the diversity as unity.
In 1978 Mark Koding an MP from Sabah while debating in Parliament had asked for the closure of Chinese and Tamil schools. He was subsequently charged under the Sedition Act and was found guilty and he was disqualified as an MP.
I am shocked by the uncalled for statement by Abdul Rahman. No right thinking man of standing more so a former Education DG can make this ridiculous and irresponsible statement. The Tan Sri is obviously short sited and insensitive statement.
We condemn and ask the police to take necessary action especially under the Sedition Act.