Dong Jiao Zong not racist, not opposing Jawi lessons - Mujahid
The Chinese educationist group Dong Jiao Zong and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mujahid Yusof Rawa have reached a consensus on the government’s move to introduce Jawi lessons in vernacular schools, following a meeting in Putrajaya today.
Among others, both parties agreed that the lessons are not meant to “Islamise” non-Muslim pupils but is instead a part of Malaysia’s national heritage that ought to be respected...
The Chinese educationist group Dong Jiao Zong and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mujahid Yusof Rawa have reached a consensus on the government’s move to introduce Jawi lessons in vernacular schools, following a meeting in Putrajaya today.
Among others, both parties agreed that the lessons are not meant to “Islamise” non-Muslim pupils but is instead a part of Malaysia’s national heritage that ought to be respected.
“We also agree that there is no issue of Dong Jiao Zong opposing the learning and teaching of Jawi, and Dong Jiao Zong is not a racist organisation.
“The issue being raised is regarding how it is implemented, which requires constructive discussions with all parties,” Mujahid said when reading out the five points of agreement from the meeting.
He was speaking at a press conference at Kompleks Islam Putrajaya following the meeting.
Mujahid said he would discuss the outcome of the meeting in an upcoming cabinet meeting.
The minister also said the meeting’s participants agreed that all parties need to de-escalate tensions in issues that affect the sensitivities of any party, and those with a racist agenda ought to be opposed.
“This is very important so that parties taking advantage of the situation all this while would not have a chance to exploit it for their narrow agenda,” he said.
Under the current policy in effect since the beginning of the year, parent-teacher associations at vernacular schools will send out surveys asking parents if they support the teaching of Jawi lessons as part of the Bahasa Malaysia subject.
If at least half of the parents at a school agree, then the three pages of lessons would be taught in that school.
Dong Jiao Zong had criticised the move, saying that it undermines the schools’ board of governors’ power to manage affairs in their own schools, but Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching denied this is the case.
Instead, Teo had said the government is merely prioritising the voice of the parents.
Meanwhile, when asked whether the role of the schools’ boards of governors was discussed in today’s meeting, Mujahid said the matter was discussed.
However, he said since he is merely the minister in charge of Islamic affairs, no commitments were made regarding the technical aspects of implementing Jawi lessons in vernacular schools.
“But I promised to raise the issue in the cabinet as feedback from our discussions,” he said.
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