All these years, Umno has dominated the BN coalition, passing laws and implementing policies which are racially divisive and governing the country with scant regard to justice, democracy and human rights.
The racially discriminatory NEP, the oppressive ISA and other draconian laws such as the Sedition Act, the obstacles put in the way of mother tongue education - these are a few examples of BN bad governance.
Throughout BN's 56- year rule, the MCA, MIC and the other BN partners in the coalition have colluded with Umno to enable the BN coalition to maintain its rule for this long.
Thus, every unjust law and constitutional amendment all these years has been passed with the support of the MCA, MIC and other BN parties. Since they have accepted ministers' and deputy ministers' posts, they cannot claim innocence or plead pragmatism.
Umno froze vernacular education
Despite the claim by the BN government that they support mother tongue education, the number of Chinese and Tamil schools has been decreasing.
The fact is we had more Chinese and Tamil schools in 1957, namely, 1,350 Chinese primary schools, more than 800 Tamil primary schools and 78 Chinese secondary schools.
Today, with our population doubled, there are only 1,285 Chinese primary schools, 550 or so Tamil primary schools and 60 Malaysian Independent Chinese Secondary Schools (MICSS).
The racially discriminatory NEP, the oppressive ISA and other draconian laws such as the Sedition Act, the obstacles put in the way of mother tongue education - these are a few examples of BN bad governance.Throughout BN's 56- year rule, the MCA, MIC and the other BN partners in the coalition have colluded with Umno to enable the BN coalition to maintain its rule for this long.
Thus, every unjust law and constitutional amendment all these years has been passed with the support of the MCA, MIC and other BN parties. Since they have accepted ministers' and deputy ministers' posts, they cannot claim innocence or plead pragmatism.
Umno froze vernacular education
Despite the claim by the BN government that they support mother tongue education, the number of Chinese and Tamil schools has been decreasing.
The fact is we had more Chinese and Tamil schools in 1957, namely, 1,350 Chinese primary schools, more than 800 Tamil primary schools and 78 Chinese secondary schools. Today, with our population doubled, there are only 1,285 Chinese primary schools, 550 or so Tamil primary schools and 60 Malaysian Independent Chinese Secondary Schools (MICSS).
Furthermore, the Chinese community has to pay "double taxation" to wholly support the 60 independent schools.
Until the Education Act 1961 was legislated, the 1957 Education Ordinance had allowed the 78 Chinese secondary schools to exist.
Under section 17.11 of the 1996 Education Act, ALL schools in the National Education System have to use Bahasa Malaysia as the main medium of instruction. (Note that under the 1961 Act, only primary schools were affected.)
There were only two exceptions to this provision: (I) schools which are given exemption by the minister; and (2) the "national-type schools" to be established in future under section 28.
The National Education System covers all educational institutions, viz. government, government-aided as well as private educational institutions (s.16)
It practically comprises all types of schools providing pre-school, primary, secondary, post-secondary and higher education, but not expatriate schools. (s.15)
As was the case at independence, Chinese and Tamil schools should be built by elected local education authorities wherever they are needed and they should be ensured proportionate financial allocation and sufficient trained teachers.
Nearly 40 years to recognize UEC!
The 60 MICSS have been surviving all these years through the support of the community which subsidizes their tuition fees. Although the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) is recognized round the world, the BN government has refused to recognize it for nearly 40 years!
In any normal enlightened country that is serious about education standards, this issue could have been easily resolved through the education ministry's accreditation board in 1975.
It should not have been racialised and politicized as it has been under the Umno-dominated BN coalition.
Thus, the recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate is not only 40 years overdue, the government should provide enough financial support for the independent secondary schools so that the students can enjoy free education as in other secondary schools.
Elected rep must possess principles
Any politically aware Malaysian, no matter how high the academic credentials, must know the reality of Umno's dominance and hegemony in the Malaysian political system and the limits of reforms they claim.
Liew Chin Tong (right) is a fine product of New Era College when the college first started in 1998 to build a tertiary institution with the "Nanda spirit".
He was its first student union president and he went on to pursue a university degree in political science at Australian National University.
Academic achievement is nothing if the scholar does not have the political awareness, principles and idealism to put it to use in the service of the people.
Academic achievement is wasted when the scholar prostitutes himself to serve a master that oppresses, divides and hoodwinks the people.
I have known Chin Tong ever since he was our student union president at NEC and I can vouch for his political acuity, level headedness and integrity in serving the people.
Thus, comparing the coalitions and the candidates that are contesting the Kluang constituency, I endorse Liew Chin Tong as the people's representative in that constituency and hope the people in Kluang will come out in droves to vote him into the federal parliament.
The 13th general election is the opportunity to put to an end BN's 56 years of racism, racial discrimination and oppression.
Until the Education Act 1961 was legislated, the 1957 Education Ordinance had allowed the 78 Chinese secondary schools to exist.
Under section 17.11 of the 1996 Education Act, ALL schools in the National Education System have to use Bahasa Malaysia as the main medium of instruction. (Note that under the 1961 Act, only primary schools were affected.)
There were only two exceptions to this provision: (I) schools which are given exemption by the minister; and (2) the "national-type schools" to be established in future under section 28.
The National Education System covers all educational institutions, viz. government, government-aided as well as private educational institutions (s.16)
It practically comprises all types of schools providing pre-school, primary, secondary, post-secondary and higher education, but not expatriate schools. (s.15)
As was the case at independence, Chinese and Tamil schools should be built by elected local education authorities wherever they are needed and they should be ensured proportionate financial allocation and sufficient trained teachers.
Nearly 40 years to recognize UEC!
The 60 MICSS have been surviving all these years through the support of the community which subsidizes their tuition fees. Although the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) is recognized round the world, the BN government has refused to recognize it for nearly 40 years!
In any normal enlightened country that is serious about education standards, this issue could have been easily resolved through the education ministry's accreditation board in 1975.
It should not have been racialised and politicized as it has been under the Umno-dominated BN coalition.
Thus, the recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate is not only 40 years overdue, the government should provide enough financial support for the independent secondary schools so that the students can enjoy free education as in other secondary schools.
Elected rep must possess principles
Any politically aware Malaysian, no matter how high the academic credentials, must know the reality of Umno's dominance and hegemony in the Malaysian political system and the limits of reforms they claim.
Liew Chin Tong (right) is a fine product of New Era College when the college first started in 1998 to build a tertiary institution with the "Nanda spirit". He was its first student union president and he went on to pursue a university degree in political science at Australian National University.
Academic achievement is nothing if the scholar does not have the political awareness, principles and idealism to put it to use in the service of the people.
Academic achievement is wasted when the scholar prostitutes himself to serve a master that oppresses, divides and hoodwinks the people.
I have known Chin Tong ever since he was our student union president at NEC and I can vouch for his political acuity, level headedness and integrity in serving the people.
Thus, comparing the coalitions and the candidates that are contesting the Kluang constituency, I endorse Liew Chin Tong as the people's representative in that constituency and hope the people in Kluang will come out in droves to vote him into the federal parliament.
The 13th general election is the opportunity to put to an end BN's 56 years of racism, racial discrimination and oppression.
DR KUA KIA SOONG was principal of New Era College from 2000 to 2008.
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