The federal constitution assures all Malaysians of their right to study their mother tongue language, and all races are encouraged to help promote national unity through mutual respect and understanding of our diversity. As such, any claims of Chinese vernacular schools (SJKC) being the main cause of racial division in our nation, such as the accusation made by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Razali Ibrahim, are utter nonsense.

By promoting the various languages and cultures of the many different races in Malaysia, we are helping to cultivate multi-lingual talents, and even foreigners have expressed their envy for our ability to converse in many languages. Thus, our diversity should be cherished, instead of being abolished.

MCA has always defended the development of Chinese education and culture, and we have never sought to provoke the sensitivities of different races. In fact, MCA has been actively promoting a deeper understanding amongst the different races to instill tolerance and respect, and this has thus allowed all Malaysians to live together in harmony for the past 50 years; a rare feat which is not easily achieved anywhere in the world.

Therefore, I urge Razali to stop trying to disrupt our hard-earned racial harmony. I also urge him to remember that the two most rapidly developing economies in the world belong to China and India; both of which are also the most populous nations. Thus, if Malaysians are allowed to study and master both these languages, as well as English and Bahasa Malaysia, it will make Malaysia more competitive.

As such, SJKCs do not hinder national unity, but instead help promote it. MCA and Chinese education are also synonymous with each other, and MCA will continue to defend our rights to learn Chinese, as well as the rights of other races to pursue their education of mother-tongue language.  

JASON TEOH SEW HOCK is MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau chairperson, MCA Central Committee member and Gelang Patah MCA Division chairperson.