YOURSAY | ‘Will Wan Fayhsal, open up bumi-exclusive learning institutions to all M’sians?’
Business First: What unity is Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal talking about when only a certain race and religion, as far as he is concerned, can be the prime minister, chief justice, governor, attorney-general, finance minister, et cetera?
If not, there will be a huge fuss citing race and religion as reasons for denying others an equal place at the table.
What unity is he talking about when only a certain race is given discounts in buying property and special privileges for loans or investments?
What unity is he talking about when the civil service, police, army, immigration are all lacking in diversity because one is promoted and recruited based on other considerations apart from merit?
Merit should be the only criteria in most cases but even the dear senator would agree that this is not happening in Malaysia, is it?
What unity is he talking about when certain races cannot get into their university of choice despite having excellent results and must then pursue their dreams abroad because others less deserving are allowed in due to their preferred status.
What unity is he talking about when government-linked companies are largely operated and run by only a certain preferred race?
Even many of those from Sabah and Sarawak, who are supposed to be bumiputera, are living in poverty. Let us not even speak about poverty among the Orang Asli.
My father was in the police force. He fought the communists. He was shot in the course of duty while on jungle patrol. He was injured and awarded a medal by the Agong. He is not Malay nor Muslim but has shed blood for Malaysia.
Yet today's police force is unrecognisable to him. There used to be diversity - Malays, Indians and Chinese. Now we have a monolith.
So yes, Wan Fayhsal, there are impediments to unity but you are looking at the wrong area.
Siva1967: Like it or not, I kind of agree with Wan Fayhsal. My generation grew up not attending vernacular schools (at least most of us), and we do have friends till this day of various ethnicity.
Not that such schools are a bane for national unity but they somewhat do contribute to the current state of affairs.
We should embrace and promote the learning of one’s mother tongue, however such should be at one’s own expense and the government should not be burdened with the responsibility.
Parents should be the sole party in deciding if their children need to be taught their respective mother tongue or not.
The abolition of vernacular schools should not be seen through the racial lens. If the situation here is so dire that such a drastic action needs to be taken, then the axe must fall on all such institutions.
If unity in this country is paramount, Wan Fayhsal should:
1) Open up bumiputera exclusive learning institutions to all Malaysians such as UiTM (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia), boarding schools such as MCKK (Malay College Kuala Kangsar) and other such learning institutions.
2) Allow the teaching of vital subjects in English to steer Malaysians to be competitive on the global stage.
3) Respect every Malaysian regardless of colour and creed to practice their religion in institutions mentioned above.
4) Grant scholarship to every Malaysian who qualify on merit and be sponsored to universities overseas which many bumiputera students were granted.
5) Allow and promote highly qualified Malaysians to top positions regardless of race and religion in schools, law enforcement, et cetera.
I can name many more instances, but my point is, magnanimity should start from within. You take the higher moral ground by abolishing all this and show your sincerity in wanting a united Malaysia for all.
This is because you are the one in government and you and your colleagues can decide for the future of this country.
Anon25: Sure, abolish vernacular schools by all means but do something useful in its place. Make half the current government schools change to become English-medium schools with Bahasa Malaysia being a compulsory language subject.
The other half will remain as Malay-medium schools like before. Let parents choose what kind of school their children should go to.
English being a neutral language can not only be a force to unite the citizens, it will also help those who study in these English schools to be able to communicate across an increasingly globalising world.
Dalvin K: Wan Fayhsal, it shows how much you have lost touch with the common Malaysian.
Go to a vernacular school, particularly a Chinese vernacular school - it is a melting pot for various races. You’ll see that Malays and Indians are sending their children to this type of schools.
Pay close attention and you shall see there's no racism among them, they study and play together because they don't know what racism is at their age.
It's ironic that when Bersatu proposes to open up for non-Malay members, you are closing the door for the rakyat to study in a second or third most-used language in the country.
GrayCondor1956: How short-sighted of Wan Fayhsal. On the other hand, if vernacular schools are abolished, will the schools grade the students based on merit?
Will Mara and matriculation be open to non-Malays? Will places in universities be awarded on merit? Will our standard of education rise?
Do you know why many parents struggle to give their kids a good education? You cannot play with the foundation of a child's future.
You guys only talk. Your children are most probably in private schools. Rectify what is wrong with our national schools first.
Tomorrow: Make national schools relevant again for all M’sians. - Mkini
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