Minister in the Prime Minister's Department P Waythamoorthy has defended Dong Zong's right to keep on opposing Jawi script lessons in vernacular schools.
Waythamoorthy (above) also saw no problem with Chinese educationist groups mobilising for a Chinese Organisation Congress on Dec 28 to persuade the government to cancel the lessons in vernacular schools.
He said this when asked to comment on PAS Setiu MP Shaharizukirnain Abdul Kadir's remark that such a congress would sow disunity.
"I can't agree (with the PAS MP). People want to meet to discuss in a healthy way. Why not? We should encourage that," he said.
"Everyone is entitled to freedom of expression. If they are calling for a meeting, it is their freedom," said the de facto national unity and social wellbeing minister.
Citing Pakatan Harapan's decision to lift the ban on a book by pro-moderation group G25 on Nov 21, he stressed that the government was open and transparent.
He was referring to the book, entitled Breaking The Silence: Voices of Moderation - Islam in a Constitutional Democracy.
The formal lifting of the ban came nearly seven months after Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Nordin Hassan ruled in favour of G25 as applicants in a judicial review to nullify the ban order issued by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as the then home minister.
On Dec 12, Chinese educational group Dong Jiao Zong said it would hold the Chinese Organisation Congress with the aim to convince the government to cancel Jawi lessons in vernacular schools.
Shaharizukirnain urged the government to take stern action to stop the congress which he claimed would split the community.
He said the need for the Chinese community to protest did not arise as the schools were given the option of whether to teach Jawi.
He also urged the government to withdraw whatever privileges given to Dong Jiao Zong.
He said the government could also suspend the Chinese educationist group and withdraw allocations given to schools under it. - Mkini
And you incharge of unity?😂😂😂
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