YOURSAY | 'Though Mubarak identified a valid problem, the explanations were unmitigated rubbish.'

'National schools turning into Malay schools'

VP Biden: Association of Former Elected Representatives (Mubarak) president Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman is lamenting a situation that most Malaysians are aware. The creeping Islamisation and subtle bullying of non-Malay students had started long time ago.

The national schools, not vernacular schools, were a school of choice of all parents at one time. Not anymore.

Dont Just Talk: Malaysians need not look far but at our southern neighbour on what they have been doing right in terms of education and racial tolerance.

Abdul Aziz is right when he pointed out that national-type schools in Malaysia have become de facto Malay schools and even Malay parents with foresight have started enrolling their children in national-type (C) schools.

Like true ostriches, the political leaders of Malaysia have been burying their heads in the sand for far too long, until, it is now very obvious that we are miles apart from Singapore.

When our graduates fail to string a proper sentence in English, it is indeed sad that we have lost our competitive edge amongst our Asean neighbours. We were once leaders but have since become followers.

Abasir: Wake up, Mubarak. Turning national schools into Malay schools was Umno's grand idea - an idea that was implemented with a vengeance to show the power of ‘ketuanan Melayu’ ... and the depths to which it would take the country.

Awang Top: Who is at fault? A long time ago, national schools were the first choice for Malaysians. Now with the subtle introduction of religious and myopic views, non-Malays are avoiding national schools like ‘wabak’ (plague).

Dr Suresh Kumar: Abdul Aziz, by your own admission, you said that during your schooling days, there were Malay, Chinese and Indian students in the national schools.

Same was the case when I was in a national school during the 70s. Not only students but teachers and support staff as well were from all communities. What happened then?

Didn't you know that former deputy minister Anwar Ibrahim, (yes, the same man who is now screaming 'change' and 'reformasi') in cahoots with former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad was one of the main culprits who destroyed the multiracial facade of our national schools?

Chinese and Tamil schools were in existence even before independence and yet we had a solid race relationship, and especially so in the 60s, 70s right up to the 80s even.

These vernacular schools were never an issue in those days, so when did they become an impediment to racial integration? Just look at the history books now in contrast to what we learned then?

The answer lies right there in front of you. Please stop pretending.

Pemerhati: Through the decades, there has been a deliberate effort by the Umno-led government to Islamise the country. Mahathir brought in Anwar for this task.

The Malay girls in schools were brainwashed and strongly encouraged to wear the tudung by the religious teachers and those working in government departments were similarly encouraged to ‘tudungnise’ by teams of women sent by some government agency and they used to go during lunch breaks and persuade them to look more Islamic.

Now most of the Malay women, except a few like the prime minister's wife Rosmah Mansor and some independent-minded women have been ‘tudungnised’. The government departments and schools started saying the doa at every possible occasion and the unhappy non-Muslims just stood by and watched.

The standards in schools plunged because the teachers were recruited based on their race and not merit. The unhappy non-Muslims then started looking for other better alternatives.

Fogbom: Anything that creates a difference between the citizens can never be positive for national unity. You, Abdul Aziz, are like the man who wanders around asking, "Where are my glasses, I can't find them!" while all the time they are balanced on top of his head.

Don't be so "awed" by Indonesia. Use the brain God gave you. First, eliminate all the things that separate the citizens of this country, by law. Then, we can look into creating more unity among the citizens.

Those who find it impossible to eliminate those 'pariah-bangsat' notions should be eliminated from the corridors of power, as soon as possible, through the ballot box. Because they are the ones who have made corruption into an art form and institutionalised racism into a symphony of hate.

ACR: Indonesia gave an outward appearance of great unity during 30-plus years of Suharto rule. The minorities (the Chinese mainly) were not allowed to practise any aspects of their traditions nor have Chinese names.

Post-Suharto, everything unravelled. The pribumi and minorities hold prejudicial views of one another. I am also unable to reconcile the claim that the Malaysian identity would be strong if we reject liberalism.

In fact, the contrary is true. There is a perversion in understanding liberalism from the narrow viewpoint of its acceptance of gays (LGBTs).

To sum up, though Mubarak's Aziz identified a valid problem, the explanations that followed were unmitigated rubbish.

Odysseus: I wonder, what did you do when you were a parliamentarian, Aziz? Were you there just to support and vote on government bills blindly?

The deterioration of quality education in national school is not a new thing. Well, you have woken up. That's good.

But they have even ignored advice from the former PM and ministers. Who will listen to you?

Thana55: Yes, who do you hold responsible for this state of affairs? It has to be Umno, square and centre. What happened to the Ministry of National Unity? After 57 years, Umno is still wondering who screwed this up.

Get rid of Umno and let's have a fresh start. My only problem is that we might not have enough room in our jails.

Shovelnose: The Education Ministry has failed miserably and will not be able to reform effectively under the current political patronage.

Free the system. Have only educationists and technocrats look after this very important national treasure and creator of the nation's future.

Only true reformists will understand the current dire straits.

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