Former Appeals Court judge Mohd Noor Abdullah says the Federal Constitution is silent on the establishment of vernacular schools.

Admitting that there was no provision prohibiting the government from assisting or creating vernacular schools, Mohd Noor said there was also no provision for the setting up of such schools.

“If the government wants to do so (establish vernacular schools), it is out of ihsan (courtesy) to do so.

"Therefore, no organisation can urge the government to assist them,” Mohd Noor ( right ) said in an interview with Sinar Harian .

Stressing that there was no problem for vernacular schools to continue, he said such schools must be self-funded.

“There is no prohibition for anyone to learn his or her mother tongue, but the government does not have to provide schools for this.

“It is different from national schools, where it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that Bahasa Malaysia is taught,” he said.

The debate on vernacular schools has been going on full swing after Petaling Jaya Utara Umno deputy division chief Mohamad Azli Mohemed Saad proposed the abolition of Chinese vernacular schools.

Mohamad Azli was quoted by the  New Straits Times as saying that Chinese vernacular schools were being "exploited" to "incite hatred" against the government.

Meanwhile, although admitting that vernacular schools had been in existence after independence, Mohd Noor said something must be done for the sake of the country’s unity.

“If vernacular schools do not lead towards unity, we have to see what can be improved so that the future generations can live in peace,” he said.

He, however, believes that the Chinese and Indians should not be blamed for opting out from national schools since it was the government which had provided vernacular schools.

“It is sad how from Year One itself, we send our children to different schools,” he said.

'Vernacular schools should be rebranded'

Mohd Noor then urged that vernacular schools be ‘rebranded’, where subjects taught in national schools should be taught in vernacular schools as well.

“Of course it will hurt people if we want to abolish things which are already in existence.

“As such, vernacular schools should be rebranded and the facility to learn the mother tongue should also be given,” he said.

'Don't sacrifice Chinese schools for politics'

Group backs Umno AGM Chinese school debate