Chinese bashing not very Islamic, Muslim group told

The Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) has been slammed for turning mother language education into a racist blame game, contrary to its Islamic pursuits.

“Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM) is surprised and shocked over the call by 130 pro-Umno NGOs, led by PPIM on Tuesday to abolish mother-tongue education as a new height of the post-GE13 blaming game. 

“That the PPIM has adopted a racist stance instead of enhancing its Islamic and universal endeavours is most unfortunate and extremely disappointing,” said the coalition of NGOs. 

The NGO coalition was responding to PPIM’s call to Prime Minister Najib Razak to “rescind all promises made ... to increase and upgrade Chinese higher education institutions in Negri Sembilan, Johor and Penang”.

The pro-Umno pressure groups argued that the Chinese “broke their promise” to support BN in the last general election and hence the PM’s promises to them did not deserve to be honoured.

“GBM urges all Malaysians to stand firm in rejecting cheap and unethical attempts by groups and politicians to question the mother tongue education system that has evolved over the years to provide Malaysia the uniqueness in linguistic and cultural diversity,” said the group.

'Constitution protects mother tongue'

They have also urged the government to condemn the "racist" statements.

GBM is comprised of a coalition of 25 NGOs, including Suaram, Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF), Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH), All Women’s Action Society (Awam), and National Indian Rights Action Team (Niat).

They argued that the right to learn and practise each person’s mother tongue is protected under the federal constitution, and lamented that groups are now “bent on tainting the colourful and multi-ethnic fabric of the Malaysian society with their parochial call to abolish Chinese and Tamil school systems”.

They added that this upsets the process of reconciliation following the May 5 general election.

“These groups need to truly appreciate the processes of democracy which embraces and operationalises the will of the people through the elected government of the day. 

“It is an irony that the government elected by the people, for the people, is now being coerced by certain irresponsible quarters to act against the will of the very people who elected them,” they noted.