PAS leader urges party to learn from success of vernacular schools

PAS MUKTAMAR | PAS central committee member Dr Halimah Ali today urged her party to learn from the success of vernacular schools to improve its own academic institutions.

In her winding-up speech on the last day of the 65th PAS muktamar, Halimah cited a DAP leader's call for police reports to be made against Muslimat vice-chief Salamiah Md Nor, who had called for an end to vernacular schools.

Taking a different tack, Halimah said credit should be given to vernacular schools for their successes, despite there being no provision for their existence under the Federal Constitution.

"I personally congratulate vernacular school activists," the PAS central education committee deputy chief said in her speech.

"Although they are the minority, they worked hard and united their efforts to build the vernacular school system, until there are Malay-Muslims who send their children to Chinese schools and maybe some to Tamil schools.

"This is their success, and we don't deny that. In fact, that is what we (in PAS) should do. We PAS members, leaders, education activists should refer to their successes, that is what we want to see...

"Upgrade to reach the highest standards so others will respect us," she said in reference to PAS' network of academic institutions from preschool to tertiary levels.

At the same time, Halimah said, PAS wants the government to upgrade the national school system, and develop a generation of students who are not only educated, but also have strong faith in God and practise universal values within a multiracial society.

Yesterday, PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar downplayed the call to end vernacular schools, stating that what was debated during the muktamar is a personal opinion and not the party's actual policy.

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim also voiced his objection, stressing that the view was not at all suited for Malaysia. - Mkini