Bersatu Youth exco leads 20 to submit memo to Dong Zong over khat

A Bersatu Youth exco member led a group of 20 people to submit a memorandum to the United Chinese School Committees Association (Dong Zong) over the khat (Jawi calligraphy) issue.

Ashraf Mustaqim Badrul Murni, in his capacity as Angkatan Gerak Minda Malaysia (Agra) president, claimed that the memorandum was supported by 90 NGOs nationwide.

The group was greeted outside Dong Zong's office in Kajang by the association's central committee member Low Chee Chong and two others, who accepted the memorandum.

Speaking to reporters after the brief meeting, Low said Dong Zong was glad to receive the memorandum.

"As a democratic country, we have differing views, and as an association, we respect all views," he added.

Low said the memorandum would be brought to the association's central committee.

He also recited a poem in Bahasa Malaysia to emphasise Malaysia's racial and cultural diversity as well as the importance of respecting differing views.

The poem reads:

Nasi lemak,
Roti canai,
Char keow teow,
Kita sukai.

Sungai Rajang,
Sungai Klang,
Sungai Pahang,
Kita cintai.

Warga negara berbudi,
Rakyat Malaysia berbilang,
Ringan sama dijinjing,
Berat sama dipikul.

Dong Zong is among the vernacular education groups which have asked Putrajaya to postpone the introduction of khat into the Year 4 Bahasa Melayu syllabus.

“We remain cautious and wary of the Education Ministry's statement (on introducing khat) because there are still many things which need to be clearly explained," said the groups yesterday.

They also clarified that their opposition was based on the grounds that it would create additional workload for vernacular school students.

[more to follow] - Mkini