Umno Youth exco member Shahril Hamdan’s critical views regarding vernacular education has courted criticism from MCA Youth.

Dismissing the assertion that vernacular schools divide Malaysians, MCA Youth education bureau chairperson Lim Ching Hao described such arguments as misguided.

According to Lim, racial divisions are caused, among others, by the mis-implementation of government policies, which appear to favour one community over others, thereby causing grievances of quota-based award and not meritocracy.

He also pointed to government officials or Umno leaders such as red-shirts leader Jamal Md Yunos insulting other races.

“Likewise, cases involving ‘body snatching’ of a deceased, or when judicial decisions on interfaith conflicts seem partisan in particular concerning unilateral conversion, or minority communities being prohibited by the authorities from addressing their Almighty in a terminology which they have been using for centuries, drive a wedge among the different communities of our beloved nation,” he added.

Lim also noted that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had over the weekend promised to work with MCA to build more Chinese schools.

“If vernacular schools indeed breed disunity, would the prime minister even dare commit to constructing more vernacular schools?” he asked.

Citing enrolment statistics, Lim said in certain Chinese primary schools, the number of non-Chinese have overtaken the number of Chinese pupils even when there are national schools in the respective districts.

“The growth of non-Chinese students in Chinese vernacular schools is a recognition by the masses that Chinese vernacular schools are doing well and it is a pride of not just the Chinese community but the whole nation, especially given the rise of China and the need for better command of the Chinese language,” he added.

Accusing Shahril of firing blanks, Lim said there are no studies to show that vernacular schools are a hindrance to national unity.

“MCA will not be deterred. Our party remains determined to continue the fight for SJKC (Chinese schools) and UEC recognition which are in line with the founding objectives of MCA.

“Young Umno leaders like Shahril should learn to be more inclusive. It is the diversity in this country which makes our country beautiful, not another attempt... to hinder the growth of other community's cultures and education,” he added.