As feared, the culture of racism from UMNO is starting to make its way to Sarawak causing much anguish to all who heard a teacher telling five Chinese students to go back to China as their Bahasa Malaysia was not up to mark. The remark was heard by staff teachers and some school prefects who were near the school office.
The incident occurred in Sg. Tapah, Mile 24 at SMK Tun Abdul Razak on Friday after five out of a group of six Fifth Formers who had been suspended went back to the school to seek explanations for their suspension.
In a press conference this morning, MP for Kuching, Chong Chieng Jen who was with the five students and some of their parents said they were distressed by such seditious remarks and called for appropriate action to be taken against the teacher.
Deducting points not enough, must 'go back' to China too
According to the five students, Liew Tzann Jiew , Voon Gwo Jiunn, Shen Yit Ming , Jong Tian Liong and Bong Vui Chiat, they were suspended as they had not done their History homework over which, 10 points had been deducted from them. An additional 50 points were deducted as it was claimed that the five had ‘lawan’ (challenged) the History teacher.
The five students went back to the school as they claimed that they did not ‘lawan’ the teacher and were explaining to a Chinese teacher in both Mandarin and BM when a Dayak teacher walked past.
The teacher who taught Form Six students said, “Stupid boys. Bahasa pun tak pandai, balik China,” One of the students said he then asked the teacher how he could say such a thing.
The five boys said everyone stopped talking after the teacher made the remark and they went back home.
The BN brand and Muhyiddin's past record
Chong said the statement was not only racist in nature but seditious and against the Federal Constitution. “This sort of statement is frequently heard in West Malaysia and now it has come to Sarawak. It all started with an MP telling a Chinese MP to go back to China. This is the BN brand of ruling in this country,” he said.
Pointing out that the Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has his 1Malaysia, 1Kopitiam, 1Clinic, Chong said all these were just propaganda with no positive action of uniting the people. “And now we have government servants who sub-consciously treat Chinese as foreigners in their own land. This racism has crept into the learning institutions of this country. Chinese are all citizens of Malaysia and no one can take that away from us."
Chong also pointed out that when Malaysia was formed in 1963, the Chinese were already long settled in the country.
Calling to the Education Minister, Muhyiddin Yassin, to take appropriate action and be transparent this time, Chong also said that a previous teacher who uttered such words against the students was transferred and promoted.
“This is sending the wrong message to the teachers,” he said.
Sad but it will happen again
Asking Najib to show his seriousness in his 1Malaysia concept, Chong said besides taking action against the teacher, the History books must be reviewed and recognition be given to all races for their contribution in the formation of Malaysia. “The content of the history book is just to push forward the UMNO agenda and this has to stop immediately,” he added stating that he will write to the Education Minister, the Sarawak Education department and the headmaster of the school for action to be taken.
Chong said ironically, Tapang was a constituency under Roland Saga and in the last Dewan sitting, Roland asked Padungan State Assemblyman, Wong King Wei to go back to China when Wong praised China's efficient public transport system.
When the school was contacted, the headmaster did not answer the phone and his staff claimed that he was not around. A senior school management staff who agreed to talk on condition of anonymity said one of the parents of the five students had turned up to the school to seek an explanation. He said the headmaster had told him why the boys were suspended and the teacher has made a personal apology to the parent for uttering the ‘balik China’ remark.
The management staff said the teacher was emotional that day and did not mean what he said. He added that the teacher’s mother too is a Chinese and he was regretful of the statement made. “We are all saddened by what has happened,” said the staff.
- Malaysia Chronicle
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