An editor of Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia has blamed vernacular schools for the inability of Chinese and Indian Malaysians to speak the national language, describing them as worse than Bangladeshis.

 

Utusan Malaysia assistant editor Ku Seman Ku Hussain cited research in 2010 by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Institute of the Malay World and Civilisation lecturer Teo Kok Seong, who conducted a survey of 14,000 national service trainees at 79 training camps.

 

Of this, it was found that 604 Chinese and Indian Malaysian trainees were unable to speak the Malay language, he said.

 

"The proportion is very large and this is the 'contribution' of vernacular schools in the context of national unity that we boast about.

 

"It seems this group (puak) of 604 people is far worse than Bangladeshis who can speak the Malay language in just three months," he said.

 

As such, Ku Seman said it was "senseless" for the government to continue funding vernacular schools and it was even more "senseless" that United Chinese School Committees Association (Dong Zong) to complain that there isn't enough money.

 

"SJK(C) is the catalyst for many Chinese to isolate themselves from accepting the Malay culture.

 

"This isolation happens on a mass scale especially when the influence of Chinese political power expanded after the 12th general election," he said.

 

As such, Ku Seman said he was in agreement with Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi ( above ) who called for a single stream school system, albeit stressing that it was his personal opinion.

 

He said SJK(C) schools have been the dividing factor between Chinese and Malay Malaysians but BN has been unwilling to "Malaysianise" these schools as it may affect its political power.