There is absolutely nothing 'dangerous' about national-type Chinese primary schools (SRJKC), as as such schools are in fact the most diverse and inclusive of all Malaysian schools, says DAP Perak Economic Development Bureau chief Chong Zhemin.

Instead, Chong said, what is dangerous is the baseless, unfounded and unsubstantiated accusations about SRJKC made by politicians such Federal Territories Umno Youth chief Mohd Razlan Muhammad Rafii.

“SRJKCs are open to all Malaysians and are the most diverse of Malaysian schools.

“However, politicians like Razlan make baseless, unfounded and unsubstantiated accusations dangerous,” Chong ( left ) said in a statement today.

Razlan, in rebutting a statement by Sibu MP Oscar Ling, who compared religious schools with vernacular schools, said  SRJKCs are 'dangerous' as they create enclaves where people could get by without speaking the national language.

Using data from Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025 to support his view, Chong pointed out that Chinese primary schools have 12 percent non-Chinese students, as opposed to non-bumiputera students in primary schools at only six percent.

Razlan also blamed SRJKCs for the inability of 604 National Service trainees to speak in the Malay language, as cited in a study that was highlighted in an Utusan Malaysia editorial last week.

“SRJKC schools is a very dangerous issue when we see that some 600 students entering the National Service programme clearly could not speak Malay at all.

“Where did they come from? Where did they get their education, if not at the SRJK C?” Razlan ( right ) had said.

Chong, who is also political secretary to Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming pointed out that going by Razlan's logic, particular types of schools could be bashed for the poor command of the English language among undergraduates in the country.

“Instead, efforts and steps should be taken to raise the quality of education in schools,” he said adding that Razlan's scathing attack on the SJK-C should be immediately censured.

Chong also called on Putrajaya to abolish the discriminative and absurd education policy for vernacular schools, under which a vernacular school can only be built to replace another.

“Education needs must stand above politics,” he added.