Dong Jiao Zong refutes Bung's claims vernacular schools the cause of disunity

Umno's Kinabatangan MP Bung Mokhtar Radin's remarks claiming that the existence of vernacular schools is the cause of disunity have raised concerns from both government and NGO.

In a joint statement today, Chinese educationist groups Dong Zong and Jiao Zong pointed out that Bung’s statement was a fallacy.

Both groups are collectively known as Dong Jiao Zong.

Dong Jiao Zong criticised Bung for repeatedly making irresponsible statements and inciting ethnic sentiments and becoming the main reason for dividing society and hindering unity.

They said elected representatives have a responsibility to serve the people and supervise the government, adding that politicians are advised to be cautious with their words and should not neglect their primary duties.

Dong Jiao Zong also stressed that the Federal Constitution had granted all ethnic groups the right to learn their mother tongue and uphold the diversity of race, religion, culture and education.

They said that although the medium of instruction is different, all vernacular schools had adopted the common syllabus stipulated by the Ministry of Education, where Bahasa Melayu and English are compulsory subjects in both Chinese and Tamil primary schools.

The groups also pointed out that all vernacular school streams have nurtured a lot of talent and promoted harmonious coexistence throughout the decades.

“Therefore, the vernacular schooling system will not divide the national unity, but the root cause (of disunity) comes from biased and unfair policies,” they said.

Not attempting to close vernacular schools

Yesterday, Free Malaysia Today reported that Bung claimed that the existence of vernacular schools is the cause of disunity.

The Kinabatangan MP said national leaders always urged for national unity, but they did not realise that the disunity had started since the primary schools level.

“Leaders here and there [...] asked for ‘let’s get united, let’s get together’, but we teach our children to divide through national schools and vernacular schools.

“Then, after six years (of primary education), we said: ‘Oh! We must unite, we must live in the same roof’.

But we never realised that the disunity has started since primary schools,” he said in Dewan Rakyat.

The Sabah Umno chief later clarified that he was not attempting to close down vernacular schools as Malaysia is a multiracial society.

'To live in harmony and unity'

Meanwhile, Deputy Education Minister II Mah Hang Soon also pointed out that Bung’s statement was incorrect.

He said vernacular schools have existed in the national education system since independence, and it is reasonable and fair according to the Federal Constitution.

Everyone should know that the teaching syllabus, textbook contents and learning materials were formulated by the Educating Ministry before they are provided to all school streams, said Mah in a statement today.

“No matter where they (the teachers) teach, they will teach the children to live in harmony and unity according to the national policies. Therefore, any statement that claimed the schools had taught disunity is harmful to the teaching profession.

“As the deputy minister of education, I am here to invite those political leaders who lack understanding towards vernacular schools to come and visit the schools, to understand and feel the educational models of vernacular schools,” the senator said. - Mkini