Articles on Chinese schools: MCLC won't pursue case

 

The Malaysian Chinese Language Council (MCLC) has decided not to pursue the case regarding two newspaper reports claiming that Chinese school (SJKC) pupils are not keen to learn Bahasa Malaysia.

This comes after the police have found no seditious elements in both articles during preliminary investigation.

The Chinese education group had earlier made a police report based on this issue.

The council said that it would leave further investigation and decision to the police and the attorney-general.

MCLC chairperson Eddie Heng (above) said the purpose of filing the police report was not to pursue prosecution or punishment of the journalist or media involved, but rather to bring awareness on the seriousness of the issue and to correct the earlier articles.

The article titled "SJKC pupils not keen to learn BM" was published in New Straits Times on Jan 18, while the group's Malay edition, Berita Harian, published on the same day the report titled "Murid SJKC tak minat subjek Bahasa Melayu?"

The articles were published on Jan 18, by the same author. Both news organisations are owned by New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd - which is part of the Media Prima Group.

Actual situation

Although both newspapers did not directly clarify the articles, they had comprehensively covered the council's clarification, said Heng.

"We are pleased these two newspapers sent their reporters to cover and publish articles about the enthusiasm for Bahasa Malaysia in the Chinese community, as well as the importance placed on it by schools and parents.

"This indirectly helps to correct the previous inaccurate reports.

"Most importantly, it is to clarify the actual situation to those who were misled," said Heng.

He believed that the council had achieved its purpose and would instruct its lawyer not to pursue the case.

However, according to him, the MCLC has no intention of withdrawing the police report.

He explained that this matter was considered a criminal case, and therefore the council would leave it to the attorney-general and the police to decide.

Key characters

During a press conference on Jan 31, MCLC contended that the articles were in violation of Section 3(1)(e) of the Sedition Act 1948 (an act that has the tendency to promote feelings of ill will and hostility or hatred between different races) and Section 124I of the Penal Code (dissemination of false reports).

The Chinese education group argued that the author only cited two teachers who aired their grievances.

It also noted that the article cited two persons with the same names as the key characters in the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms".

The MCLC then filed the police report after both newspapers did not respond to their request for clarification.

According to Sentul district police chief Beh Eng Lai, their preliminary investigation found that the titles of both articles could lead to negative perceptions that can cause “kegusaran” (public alarm), but the contents did not contain any seditious statements.

The investigation was conducted under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code (statements conducing to public mischief) and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (statements that are false, obscene and indecent). - Mkini