The MCA and Barisan Nasional came in for a tongue-lashing in the Dewan Rakyat today over policy-level inadequacies related to vernacular schools.

Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam) criticised MCA leaders for not doing enough to fight for the rights of the Chinese community, in particular its inability to add to the number of vernacular schools.

She said the Chinese-based party should be "bolder, not just powerless within the ruling coalition".

Participating in the debate on the Supplementary Supply Bill, which is at the committee stage, she said discussions on issues affecting vernacular schools should not be held behind closed doors.

"Where is the MIC, Gerakan and SUPP (Sarawak United People's Party) in such decisions? Is the government hiding something from the public?" she asked.

Calling for greater transparency in the decision-making process surrounding vernacular schools, she said such matters should not be restricted to the views of MCA and Umno.

Chong Eng also said the authorities should build more national-type Chinese (SJKC) and Tamil (SJKT) schools to meet demand for such education.

'Build more schools'

Chong Eng noted that parents should have the freedom to enrol their children in schools of their choice, but that this is often restricted because of the limited number and size of SJKC and SJKT.

In certain areas, these are not able to accommodate the growing number of students, she said.

"Applications to build SJKC and SJKT always run into difficulties. The government should speed up decisions on the applications," she said.

She further urged attention to the tertiary education needs of Chinese and Indian Malaysian students, pointing out that failure to do so could affect racial unity .

Citing a China Press report, she said many students from the two communities had obtained between nine and 13 As in the SPM examination last year. However, they have reportedly not been accepted for studies at the matriculation level.

Badrudin Amiruldin (BN-Jerai) remarked that he does not practise discrimination, saying that he has contributed equally to SJKCs in his constituency.

"This is necessary because we live as one cluster," he said.

Tan Lian Hoe (BN-Bukit Gantang) suggested that Mandarin and Tamil language be introduced as a subject in national-type schools, so that students master all four main languages spoken in Malaysia.