Education Blueprint unconstitutional, say Muslim groups

A coalition of Muslim pressure groups has alleged the Education Blueprint 2013-2025 was unconstitutional and urged the government to halt the plan.

“Gabungan NGO Islam-Melayu urges the government to suspend implementation of the Education Blueprint 2013-2025 until the issue of vernacular schools is settled in accordance to the Federal Constitution,” said Gabungan NGO Islam-Melayu, which supposedly represents 130 different NGOs.

“We are concerned the Blueprint is illegal because it clearly contravenes provisions under the constitution and its implementation will threaten the national integration that is the aspiration of every Malaysian,” said the statement.

Spokesperson for the coalition, Dzulkarnain Taib, who is president of Kelab Wartawan Muda Malaysia, said the Education Blueprint goes against both Article 152 and 153.

“Provisions under the constitution does not provide for any building of vernacular schools because it just guarantees that non Malays can learn in their mother tongue,” said Dzulkarnain.

“It’s not to build a school and teach geography, history in your own language,” he said.

“So this can be questioned in court as it is ultra vires the constitution and very disappointing,” he said.

Dzulkarnain also criticised Deputy Education Minister II P Kamalanathan for claiming that the government will continue to assist vernacular schools.

“As a person, who holds the education portfolio, he should be knowledgeable on the question of vernacular schools in the Federal Constitution but his ignorance becomes a liability to the Cabinet of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak."

The coalition also urged all members of the Cabinet not to make “emotional” decisions.

The blueprint was spearheaded by Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and unveiled on Sept 11 last year.