Fallacy to accuse multi-stream school system as impeding unity

Any accusation that Malaysia’s multi-school stream system prevents national unity is an absolute fallacy. Even in foreign countries which adopt a single-stream education system, the problem of ethnic conflict still arises, thereby proving that national unity has not linked at all as to whether the education system is multi or single stream, but relates to whether government policies are implemented fairly to all Malaysians irrespective of race.

All students regardless of ethnicity are enrolled into the same class at school. If government policies are implemented differently according to race, such a scenario will only polarize ethnic relations and can even breed hatred, much less achieve national unity.

UiTM Pro-Chancellor Tan Sri Dr Abdul Rahman Arshad had proposed that vernacular schools be abolished and be replaced with a single school stream to unite the races. Such a remark is a typical example of a misinformation.

The rise of Mandarin as an international language or learning Mandarin is no longer an issue. In fact, studying the Chinese language has caught on with other non-Chinese ethnicities worldwide. Moreover, learning several languages to be multi-lingual is also a global trend. People who view mother-tongue education as belonging to only that particular community are clearly out of touch with modern times.

Outside greater China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, Malaysia is the only country that offers the most comprehensive education system in the Chinese language. This is not only a Malaysian asset but that of Southeast Asia.

More importantly, Article 152 (1)(a) of our Federal Constitution clearly provides that “no person shall be prohibited or prevented from using, or from teaching or learning, any other language.” Thus, clearly the right to use our mother-tongue education is enshrined in the Federal Constitution, and this is the consensus reached upon by our founding fathers which nobody should ever question.

In view of Barisan Nasional’s dismal performance at the 13th general election, the authorities have to carry out a thorough review on the problems and weaknesses permeating in the sys, and try to come up with a solution to win back votes of everyone, rather than just blinding blaming one particular community. Any calls of “backlash” or “ungrateful” are utterly irresponsible which is akin to incitement of racial hatred, destruction of harmony and social stability.

Remarks by former Court of Appeal Judge DAto’ Mohd Noor Abdullah who warned the Chinese to expect a “backlash” from the Malays for betraying the latter are irresponsible. While the majority of the Chinese community may have voted for the Opposition, not only did they vote for candidates from DAP, but also for candidates from PKR and PAS who consisted of Malays, Indians, native people besides Chinese. The argument of the Chinese “betraying” the Malays holds no water at all as Chinese voters had shown support for BN during the 1995, 1999 and 2004 general elections. Thus, there is no such thing as a Chinese “betrayal.”

*This is the full version of MCA Youth Education Bureau chairman Chonng Sin Woon's press statement