MCA wants an end to “stupid calls” to shut down Chinese vernacular schools by narrow-minded and ignorant politicians.

Central committee member Lua Choon Hann said this in response to “unscrupulous” politicians, who have become bolder in urging the abolition of Chinese schools (SJKC), claiming it obstructs national unity.

"At a time when multiracial Malaysians enroll into SJKC thereby showing its acceptance by various races, it is disheartening that there still exists narrow-minded and ignorant political leaders who love to cook up a storm for their cheap publicity and political mileage," he said in a statement.

Debate on the matter hit fever pitch after Umno revealed that it will debate whether or not Chinese schools should be maintained, during the party's annual general assembly this month.

Critics of vernacular schools are expected to push for the establishment of single-stream schools instead.

Lua, however, claims that SJKCs are a popular choice for Malaysians of all race, and as such should be further developed, not closed.

Those who have a negative view of Chinese schools, he said, should visit SJKC Yuk Tze in Tumpat, Kelantan, where Chinese students are a minority.

Lua, who is also MCA Kelantan Economic Consultative Committee chairperson, claims only 22.4 percent of the students at the school are Chinese, while 42.2 percent are Thais, 33.4 percent Malays, and two percent others.

"(The visitors) will be able to see for themselves if the obstruction to national unity that is so feared by them actually happens," he said.

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