Fadhlina's defence of Chinese students' school visit doesn't hold water - PN

Opposition leaders slammed Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek's defence of a visit by Chinese naval university students to a school in Penang on Monday.

According to Bersatu's Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, Fadhlina's (above) justification that the visit was merely a cultural and sports programme does not hold water as it involved students training to be members of the Chinese navy.

"It is similar to the crew of the Royal Malaysian Navy's KD Pelandok vessel training to be naval officers and personnel," Mas Ermieyati said in a statement today.

She further questioned Fadhlina's remark that the programme was held in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China, as this was celebrated on May 31, 2024.

"The celebration of the success of the Chinese Communist revolution was on Oct 1, 2024. Was this visit made in conjunction with the celebration of diplomatic ties anniversary between Malaysia and China or the celebration of the communist revolution success, and the establishment of the People's Republic of China?" Mas Ermieyati asked.

Yesterday, Fadhlina said the visit of Chinese nationals to the Chung Ling Private High School in George Town on Monday which went viral on social media was a cultural and sports programme and not conducted by the Chinese Navy.

She slammed the misinformation spread online and explained that the visit involved 165 lecturers and students from the Naval University of Engineering China to the school.

Last Saturday, the Penang state government announced the arrival of 1,000 Chinese navy trainees to the state on two naval vessels, the Qi Jiguang Training Ship and the JinggangShan ship from Zhanjiang, for a friendly visit.

Overlapping territorial claims

Elaborating, Mas Ermieyati claimed that the visit proved the Penang state government's "negligence", which she said was not sensitive to the Luconia Shoals (known locally as Beting Patinggi Ali) overlapping territorial claims issue.

"I wonder whether the Chinese naval students, during the 'cultural programme' at the Chung Ling Private High School, stressed that the South China Sea was their territory under the 'nine-dash line' concept?" said Mas Ermieyati.

China claims a large portion of the South China Sea, dubbed the nine-dash line, including the waters of Malaysia and several other Southeast Asian countries.

Mas Ermieyati also questioned whether the National Security Council was aware of the port call by the two Chinese naval ships, and the "warm welcome" accorded by the Penang state government to the vessels.

In a separate statement, PAS information department's research and policy chief Nurul Islam Mohamed Yusoff urged Fadhlina to stop trying to "fool the people" with her justification.

"What the people want to know is why we invited and allowed foreign troops who are actively invading the country's borders to attend Chinese private schools in Penang.

"Hope the prime minister (Anwar Ibrahim) or the minister (in charge) will give explanations on the matter," he said.

PN leaders onboard

Gerakan president Dominic Lau and his deputy Oh Tong Keong were among those invited to board the Qi Jiguang Training Ship, according to Lau’s Facebook post.

Lau said he and Oh were "warmly received" by major generals Yao Boran and Sun Zhongyi during their courtesy call to the vessel.

"The Chinese naval formation came to Penang this time to promote regional peace, enhance Malaysia-China friendship and promote development.

"May Malaysia-China friendly relations be forever green," he wrote in Chinese.

Gerakan is a Perikatan Nasional component, and it is unknown whether fellow opposition leaders have raised any issues with the duo's visit for the port call.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil recently said the issue of a threat to national sovereignty did not arise following the docking of two Chinese naval ships at Penang Port.

The government spokesperson said warships from other countries often dock at Malaysian ports but follow protocols set by Wisma Putra and with the knowledge of the Defence Ministry.

Last July, Sarawakian fisherfolk lamented the lack of freedom to "fish in own territory", due to the presence of China Coast Guard vessels in the South China Sea.

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