Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has called academic Teo Kok Seong's insistence that Chinese schools propagate racism against Malays, a "racist hate speech" that could cause division between communities.
The DAP leader said Teo's remarks were a disservice to the principles of unity and inclusivity which should be upheld in the society.
"His (Teo's) accusations are not only unjustified but also potentially divisive and harmful. There is no credible basis for his claims and they could be construed as hate speech, fostering suspicion and division between communities.
"Teo's assertion that Chinese-educated individuals look down on and disparage Malays is not only untrue but also mischievous. Such statements only serve to perpetuate stereotypes and deepen rifts in our multicultural society.
"It is important to recognise that the vast majority of Chinese-educated individuals do not harbour such sentiments and actively contribute to a harmonious society," Teresa said in a statement today.
The DAP lawmaker was responding to Teo, who claimed that the former was in denial over his remark that Chinese vernacular schools propagate racism.
The former principal fellow with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Institute for Ethnic Studies claimed that conversations with a negative perception of the Malay and Indian communities were a norm among generations of Chinese in Malaysia, and this has become more visible with the advent of social media.
Earlier, Teresa had called for the police to investigate Teo for a TikTok video alleging that Chinese schools propagate racism against Malays.
Chinese schools asset to nation
Elaborating, Teresa said Teo's remark had insulted the Chinese community as a whole, disregarding the significant contributions of Chinese vernacular schools to the country's education.
"Many Chinese-educated students have been accepted into local public universities, demonstrating their competency in Bahasa Malaysia.
“The claims that Chinese school students cannot communicate effectively in Bahasa Malaysia is unfounded and ignores the achievements of countless students who have excelled in their studies.
"Furthermore, Teo's remarks reveal a poor understanding of Chinese vernacular schools and their inclusive nature," she said.
Teresa then cited data from the Education Ministry, which showed that in 2020, the percentage of Malay students in Chinese vernacular schools increased from 9.15 percent in 2010 to 15.3 percent in 2020.
"The increasing number of Malay students attending these schools is a testament to their commitment to diversity and multiculturalism. If these schools were truly promoting racism, they would not attract such diverse groups.
"In conclusion, Teo's accusations against Chinese vernacular schools are baseless and inflammatory. They do a disservice to the principles of unity and inclusivity that we should strive to uphold in our society.
"I hope that we can move past these divisive statements and work towards a future where all communities are respected and valued," said Teresa.
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