'Non-Malay PM': Abolish 'divisive' vernacular education first - Mukhriz

 

Malaysia must eliminate factors that divide the people, such as having vernacular schools, before the possibility of having a non-Malay becoming prime minister can be entertained, said Pejuang president Mukhriz Mahathir.

"The existence of vernacular schools, in particular, creates a separate stream of teaching that can cause division among our children.

"Our founding fathers would not have agreed to let the British-era vernacular schools continue operating well beyond Merdeka, as they know it would create more divisions between the people," he said in a statement today.

The former Jerlun MP was responding to a statement by DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang last Friday that he does not expect to see a non-Malay PM in this country in his lifetime, or his children's lifetime.

He cited the election of Barack Obama, who is an American of African descent, as the country's president some time ago, given the community's history as slaves in the past.

Elaborating, Mukhriz (above) said that children should be allowed to 'learn, play and mingle' with each other until the differences between them become celebrated and not divisive.

"Only then we can hope to see a non-Malay as nothing other than a Malaysian, not coloured by their ethnic background. However, it is widely agreed that our national education system is in dire need of a complete overhaul."

Lim Kit Siang

According to Mukhriz, being Malaysian is about being perceived based on one's words, actions, way of life, and demeanour, instead of being identified as Malaysian first, and their ethnic background second.

He noted that despite being an American of African descent, Obama's upbringing, education, and way of life were thoroughly American.

Malaysia-Thai comparison

Mukhriz also cited several Thai prime ministers of Chinese descent, such as Chuan Leekpai, Thaksin, and Yingluck Shinawatra, as well as Abhisit Vejjajeva, who went on to lead the country.

"How does this compare to Malaysia? Unfortunately, we continue to witness social disparities between the wealthy and poor, and urban and rural populations, compounded by ethnic divides. This kind of ethnic divisions is not obvious in Thailand.

"One reason for this could be the educational system. Chinese Malaysians have their vernacular schools where Mandarin, not Bahasa Malaysia, is the medium of instruction from kindergarten to secondary school. Some even continue their higher education in Taiwan, entirely in Mandarin," said Mukhriz.

"Although most Malaysian Chinese can speak Bahasa Malaysia, their fluency may not match that of Chinese Thais or Indonesians in their respective national languages," he added, noting that the reason for this could be all Thais and Indonesians attending schools that follow their respective national education systems.

"Unlike Thai Chinese, who seamlessly blend in with other ethnic Thais, Chinese Malaysians often insist on maintaining their language, culture, and way of thinking separate from the majority Malays. This only reinforces the emphasis on ethnicity and creates further divisions in society."

Mukhriz noted that the Malaysian majority would continue to choose a leader who best represents their interests.

"If a non-Malay can convince the majority of Malays to support them, the norms will change.

"However, unless our system truly unites all our people, this will remain a pipe dream." - Mkini