We're still united, DAP sec-gen says after almost 5-hour meeting on khat

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng today stressed that the party was still united after an almost five-hour meeting with all DAP elected representatives over the controversy surrounding the government's plan to introduce khat (calligraphy) lessons in school.

This was amid DAP grassroots attacking some party central leaders for backing the government's plan to introduce six pages of khat lessons to the Year 4 Bahasa Malaysia textbook.

"The discussion was done in an open and frank matter. What is important is that the DAP takes a common position.

"Contrary to claims (that DAP is split), DAP is still united and will manage this matter as a team," he told journalists at the DAP headquarters after the meeting which ended at around 12.40am on Tuesday.

He said the party had listened to the various views and an official statement will be released later in the day.

DAP elected representatives from across the country were summoned to the party's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur as they sought to discuss khat issue, which has seen fierce pushback from the Chinese community and putting pressure on the party.

Top DAP leaders, including Lim, party deputy chairperson Gobind Singh Deo and national organising secretary Anthony Loke, began arriving as early as 6.30pm and the meeting commenced at 8pm.

Other key figures at the meeting were DAP international secretary Teo Nie Ching, who is also deputy education minister and DAP political education director Liew Chin Tong.

Both leaders have come under attack by grassroots leaders for defending the planned introduction of khat.

The proposal is to introduce a six-page lesson on khat in the Year 4 Bahasa Malaysia textbook, which will include the Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools.

However, those opposed to the move have given reasons, ranging from concerns that it would burden students to the worry that it is an Islamisation attempt, due to the perception that Jawi and its calligraphy (khat) is tied to Islamic literature.

However, government leaders including Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had said that khat is not exclusive to Muslims and is considered an art.

Other notable figures at the meeting tonight was Tras assemblyperson Chow Yu Hui, who had initiated the statement endorsed by over 100 DAP branches and parliamentary liaison committee opposing the introduction of Khat.

"We will bring the grassroots' opinion and voices into the meeting," Chow told journalists outside the DAP headquarters.

Other assemblypersons who endorsed the statement, including Violet Yong (Pending), Lee Chin Chen (Bilut) and Tan Hong Pin (Skudai), are also at the meeting.

Teo (above), who is under tremendous pressure and have had to endure social media abuse for defending the six-page khat lessons, arrived at 7.50am and merely smiled as she made her way into the party headquarters.

After the meeting, Chow said he had conveyed the grassroots concern to the central leadership.

"The party has also provided guidance and a statement will be issued tomorrow (later today)," he said. - Mkini