Foster Unity

a NST exclusive by Adrian Lai

KUALA LUMPUR: A PROMINENT Chinese community leader has admitted that the existence of various school streams in the country has impeded efforts to create a united nation.

Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Hua Zong) secretary-general Prof Datuk Dr Chin Yew Sin, however, said despite the problem, the government should continue to find ways to foster unity among young Malaysians without changing the status quo.

“Racial polarisation exists, but the right to operate Chinese vernacular schools in Malaysia is enshrined in the Federal Constitution. It is part of the social contract signed by our forefathers and cannot be challenged,” he told the New Straits Times yesterday.

“If students in national and national-type schools do not interact (with each other) at all, they will grow up living in different worlds and this will create problems in the future.”

He was responding to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s speech at MCA’s Annual General Assembly on Sunday, in which Najib assured the public that Chinese education would continue to be safeguarded.

However, Najib said he hoped students in Chinese vernacular schools would learn and master Bahasa Malaysia.

“Bahasa Malaysia is not only the national language, but also serves as the medium of communication for all ethnic groups in Malaysia. It is a tool that can foster national unity,” said Chin.

He said although the legitimacy of Chinese vernacular schools was guaranteed under the social contract, the inability of students from the different types of schools to interact would cause disunity.

“Students in the different types of schools are moving in the same direction, but on parallel lines. As the Malay adage goes, tak kenal maka tak cinta (to know somebody is to love somebody). We must work around this problem by finding a way to intersect these lines and find common ground.”

Barisan Nasional Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin used a similar analogy to describe the problem of racial polarisation while speaking at MCA Youth’s 50th Annual General Meeting on Saturday.

Citing a fictitious example of Ahmad and Lim, who were both born in Malaysia but followed different language pathways, Khairy said Malaysia was facing a problem of too many “parallel lines”.

“Parallel lines will never meet. In Malaysia, we have too many of these. We need to find a solution to bend these parallel lines, so we can see interaction between youth.”

Chin said the solution was in the government’s efforts to help the various schools converge.
“In recent years, the government had initiated the Racial Integration and Malaysian Unity Programme (Rimup). The programme was designed to encourage the various schools to jointly hold events.

“These events, held in Bahasa Malaysia, range from sports activities and debates to discussion forums. However, Rimup events are few and far between because of insufficient funds.”

He said such a programme would not only help students from Chinese and Indian vernacular schools improve their Bahasa Malaysia, but also foster stronger bonds among the races.

“A similar programme is also outlined in the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025, and I hope the government will expend time and resources to make it a success.”

Chin said he was confident that all Chinese vernacular schools, Hua Zong and Dong Zong, or United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia, would support the initiative.

The debate on Chinese vernacular schools was sparked recently by Petaling Jaya Utara Umno deputy chief Mohamad Azli Mohemed Saad, who proposed that the status of such schools be discussed at the Umno General Assembly next month.

He had alleged that opposition parties were using the schools to create racial disharmony and sow hatred towards the government.

United Chinese School Teachers Association (Jiao Zong) chairman Ong Chiow Chuen said he was relieved to hear Najib’s assurance.

However, he said, there were still “voices” that would abuse the issue and call for the abolishment of vernacular schools.

“These people must face the consequences of the law. We cannot let them question our right to run Chinese vernacular schools. Action must be taken against such individuals.”

- source NST online