'No police report, no probe' - minister on Akmal's vernacular school remark

No police report was lodged in relation to Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh’s remark on abolishing vernacular schools, said Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, implying no investigations have commenced.

The minister said this in a written parliamentary response to DAP MP Lim Guan Eng’s question on what action the authorities took against the Umno Youth leader over the remark.

“Regarding the remark made by the Umno Youth leader who suggested the abolition of vernacular schools, the police checked and found no reports lodged on the matter, to date,” Saifuddin said.

Akmal made the remark following Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) president Tan Yi Ze’s suggestion for the government to abolish the matriculation system and use STPM results as the sole benchmark for entry to public universities.

Akmal had questioned whether Umany would agree if the government abolished vernacular schools.

“If you can’t agree, then don’t talk about abolishing the matriculation programme,” the Merlimau assemblyperson was reported as saying.

It should be noted that the Bukit Mertajam Magistrate’s Court has charged Akmal under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code with allegedly threatening public order over a separate issue involving Jalur Gemilang being flown upside down in the state.

Touching on Tan, Saifuddin said the student leader is being investigated under Section 505(B) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 after a police report was lodged.

“The police have recorded statements from 17 individuals (in regard to the investigations),” he added.

Focus on solutions, not scapegoats, DAP Youth scoffs at Akmal

COMMENT | Akmal attacks his allies while wooing saboteurs

No need to maintain ties with Akmal, S'gor and Malacca DAP Youth wings say

Akmal pleads not guilty to threatening public order charge