RACIST AS EVER, PAS UNWILLING FOR MANDARIN TO BECOME MALAYSIA’S SECOND LANGUAGE – TO SHUT DOWN ALL VERNACULAR SCHOOLS ONCE THEY WREST POWER: WHAT SAYS UMNO & MCA , THE ALLIES OF NEW PAS-POWERED COALITION – ANWAR & DAP DEMAND ANSWER

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim says he strongly objects to a PAS leader’s call to end the vernacular school system.

He said this view was not at all suited for Malaysia.

“We don’t agree with this view that is unsuited for Malaysia. Malay is the national and official language but other languages (are upheld).

“If Malaysia wants to be developed, other than the official language which is accepted by all without compromise, then English, Chinese, and other (languages) are important and beneficial to us,” Anwar told reporters in Kuala Lumpur tonight.

He was responding to PAS Muslimat vice-chief Salamiah Mohd Nor who had today called for the government to end vernacular schools.

She said she was unwilling to see Mandarin become a second language for Malaysians.

“Dewan Muslimat has one hope […] we are unwilling for Mandarin to become a second language.

“We want the second language to be that of the Quran and Sunnah which have been neglected for generations causing some Muslims to become ignorant about the Quran,” she said at the ongoing PAS muktamar (general assembly) in Kuantan.

PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar later downplayed the call as a personal view.

Anwar added that those who don’t see the need to be proficient in other languages were not getting on with the times.- M’kini

DAP MAN JABS UMNO, MCA ON PAS ‘END VERNACULAR SCHOOLS’ CALL

A DAP leader has called on Umno and MCA to state their stand on a call by the PAS women’s wing to end the vernacular schools system.

Malacca exco member Kerk Chee Yee said it was not enough for Umno acting president Mohamad Hasan and MCA president Wee Ka Siong to make a statement.

“(Mohamad and Wee) should explain their party’s stance if they don’t agree with the (PAS) proposal, and (because of it) wish to end cooperation with PAS.

“They are urged to take practical steps, not just make statements that result in nothing,” Kerk said in a statement today.

PAS Muslimat vice-chief Salamiah Mohd Nor today called for the government to end vernacular schools.

She said she was unwilling to see Mandarin become a second language for Malaysians.

“Dewan Muslimat has one hope […] we are unwilling for Mandarin to become a second language.

“We want the second language to be that of the Quran and Sunnah which have been neglected for generations, causing some Muslims to become ignorant about the Quran,” she said at the ongoing PAS muktamar (general assembly) in Kuantan.

Kerk said the remarks were against the culture of diversity in Malaysia.

He said politicians in a “new Malaysia” should put the people’s interest first instead of trying to divide them.

He said the Federal Constitution guaranteed the right of other races to learn their mother tongues including in vernacular schools.

He added that if PAS felts that ending vernacular schools was what the people wanted, they should include it in their manifesto for the next general election. – M’kini

MKINI