Would Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal call for the abolition of international schools too after calling for the phasing out of vernacular schools, asked former deputy education minister Teo Nie Ching.

In a statement today, Teo cast her doubt on the intention of Wan Fayhsal in singling out the vernacular schools during the Merdeka month.

"I refer to his statement to abolish the vernacular schools as totally irresponsible especially during Merdeka month where we renew our patriotic commitment to our beloved nation.

"Vernacular schools do not only cater to one race or identity. Vernacular schools are very much Malaysian and reflect the spirit of Rukun Negara," she said.

She pointed out that there were 18 percent of non-Chinese students in Chinese primary schools.

She then questioned if Wan Fayhsal implying that the students and their parents were not nationalistic.

"I dare say, this is a dangerous assumption to make, as students from vernacular schools are capable children and able to contribute significantly to nation-building," she said.

Yesterday, Wan Fayhsal said the government must take note of the negative perception that vernacular schools failed to produce nationalistic students.

He said a nationalist must not only embrace the ideology but also the national language, but the vernacular school graduates were only fluent in their mother tongues.

"Why target vernacular schools only? In Malaysia, international schools are not using Bahasa Malaysia as the medium of instruction," asked Teo.

"The Chinese and Tamil primary schools are using national curriculum prepared by the Education Ministry while the international schools do not even use the national curriculum.

"So, will Wan Fayhsal campaign for phasing out international schools too? Does this attack on the vernacular schools carry malicious intent?"

She also asked if Wan Fayhsal would say that students in international schools, or their parents who send their kids to International Schools, are also not nationalistic?

She demanded Muhyiddin Yassin to explain in both his capacity as Bersatu president and prime minister if the stance of Bersatu Youth wing is also the stance of Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional government.

"If Muhyiddin fails to do so, I would say this is one of the saddest Independence Day celebrations in Malaysian history," Teo concluded. 

Meanwhile, Pakatan Harapan Youth said it was the racist stance of Bersatu Youth that should be "abolished" instead of vernacular schools which were protected under the Federal Constitution.

"We were of the view that the reverse, greedy and clear stance of violation of the Constitution, as well as racism, should be abolished immediately, not in stages," said Harapan Youth in a statement.

The statement was jointly signed by PKR Youth chief Akmal Nasir, DAP Youth chief Shazni Munir Mohd Ithnin and DAP Youth chief Howard Lee.

They called for the rakyat to reject politicians who have a tendency to incite racial sentiments in the next general elections. - Mkini