MCA Publicity Bureau chairman Datuk Heng Seai Kie said today that Barisan Nasional (BN) has never discriminate any race as claimed by former former Court of Appeal Judge Dato’ Mohd Noor Abdullah.

On June 19, Mohd Noor claimed that the Government, by supporting Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools, are neglecting other minorities and this was unconstitutional

He said that the current Education Policy contravenes Article 8 and Article 12 of the Federal Constitution, which talks about equality and non-discrimination on education respectively.

Mohd Noor said that the Government has made the Chinese and Tamil communities “privileged” by only supporting Chinese and Tamil type national schools, Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (SJK), but not the language of other ethnicities.

“The policy of the government is to ensure that every Malaysian citizen regardless of their background be given sufficient help.

“But the poor and underprivileged will be given the more support, not just to help them but to uplift them and at least on par with other races, so that they will not be left behind,” said Heng when contacted by Astro Awani.

Heng said if the government is neglecting other minorities including the Orang Asli, then why there is a Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli.

“We don’t see a ‘Jabatan Orang India or a ‘Jabatan Orang Melayu’ around. So it’s not wise for him to say that the government has been giving the Chinese and Indian more privilege,” she argued.

Commenting on the usage of Bahasa Melayu, she said it’s the obligation of every Malaysian who call themselves Malaysians, to learn and master the language.

Heng said it has nothing to other races having to show gratitude to the Malays for purportedly sacrificing the Jawi to use Bahasa Melayu as claimed by Mohd Noor.

“I can’t accept him saying that the Chinese and Indians should use Bahasa Melayu as a sign of gratitude (towards the Malays). It should be “semangat kecintaan pada negara” (the spirit of love to the country)... it’s our language,” she said, pointing that Bahasa Melayu is the national language.

She said besides the spirit, people also learn Bahasa Melayu for its practicality as it can be use almost everywhere for business or conversing with government agencies.

“He should say ‘everyone should learn Bahasa Melayu because we are Malaysians’,” Heng added.