Muslim teachers group appeals over validity of vernacular schools
This followed on the heels of the Ikatan Guru-Guru Muslim Malaysia (I-Guru) filing an appeal to the Appellate Court two days ago.
The group’s appeal is...
The Court of Appeal is set to hear the issue of whether vernacular schools in Malaysia are constitutional.
This followed on the heels of the Ikatan Guru-Guru Muslim Malaysia (I-Guru) filing an appeal to the Appellate Court two days ago.
The group’s appeal is against the Kota Bharu High Court ruling on Saturday last week which dismissed their legal challenge over the validity of vernacular schools.
I-Guru’s counsel Shaharudin Ali recently confirmed the filing of the Notice of Appeal on Tuesday.
According to a copy of the Notice of Appeal dated May 31, the group’s president Mohd Azizee Hasan said they are “not satisfied” with the verdict by High Court judge Mohamad Abazafree Mohd Abbas.
On Saturday, Abazafree ruled that vernacular schools are valid and in line with Article 152 of the Federal Constitution. The provision deals with the national language.
I-Guru had contended that vernacular schools are invalid as they are public authorities and hence must only use the national language.
The group’s legal action listed eight defendants, among them being the Education Ministry, the government of Malaysia, the Malaysian Chinese Language Council, Malaysia Tamil Neri Kalagam and Gabungan Persatuan Pelajar Tamil Malaysia.
The Kota Bharu case is very similar to another case which had been filed in Kuala Lumpur but initiated by different parties.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court dismissed the legal challenge against vernacular schools in December last year. This matter is also now pending before the Appellate Court.
