Mukhriz clarifies his stand on vernacular schools

Jerlun member of parliament Mukhriz Mahathir today said that he had not openly asked for the vernacular schools to be shut down.

Instead he said that he had only suggested for the education system to be integrated.

"The education system should just be one... I want to clarify that I did not say the vernacular schools must be closed.

"You will find that the contents of the reports in newspapers are somehow different from their headlines as I never said vernacular schools must be closed down.

"I just said that we keep the same schools but the system needs to be one, using Bahasa Malaysia as the medium except for Mathematics and Science, which is in English.

"This is the practice in most countries in the world," said Mukhriz when met at the Parliament lobby today.

The BN parliamentarian, who is contesting for the Umno Youth chief post in the upcoming March party elections, also dismissed that his call for one integrated system was a tactic to garner votes from Umno delegates.

"I strongly feel that this is one way we can instil unity among our people starting from young," he said.

Asked if creating the 'one-system' would indirectly mean eliminating vernacular schools, Mukhriz said:

"Malaysia is not a melting pot despite what people think. Malaysia is a nation of many cultures and many religions and this is what we pride upon," he added.

"We are proud of our multi-ethnicity. That is what attracts people to Malaysia and we have never had problems but I'm just suggesting instilling unity starting from young," he added.

He explained he had stated in Parliament yesterday that Mandarin and Tamil medium schools should use Bahasa Malaysia as the main medium of instruction, at the same time making it compulsory for students to learn their mother-tongues in all schools.

Wee: They sing the national anthem too

Responding to the matter Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong said that vernacular schools were part and parcel of the Malaysian education system.

"Existence of vernacular schools is already part of our education system and I think this is the strength of our country," said Wee.

"I think we cannot summarise that this is the cause of polarisation... we have to go to the root of the issue.

"Don't simply assume that whenever there is a controversy, then blame on Tamil and Chinese schools... we sing the same national anthem too and we also have the Rukun Negara ," said Wee.

Furthermore, the deputy minister said that the syllabus taught in the schools was approved by the Ministry of Education and the contents taught were also closely monitored by the ministry.

"Don't simply assume that those from Chinese or Tamil schools cannot speak Malay. Don't make assumption that those who go the s ekolah kebangsaan can speak Malay or that they are more Malaysian," added Wee.

Later at a separate press conference, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng also lambasted Mukhriz for attempting to garner votes by making "extremist comments".

"We hope he would acknowledge that it is a mistake and move forward... it was a sensitive speech with misleading motives and we hope that appropriate action will be taken on him," said Lim.

Also present at the press conference were Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim and PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa who took a similar stand.

"In Selangor it is not problem of closing schools but upgrading the schools with the necessities for all races," said Khalid.

The menteri besar was referring to the RM10 million allocations by the Selangor government for the upgrading of vernacular schools and religious schools.

Nasharuddin also took the stand that the "rights of the parents to decide on the educational upbringing of their children cannot be deprived".

"The right must be defended and PAS is on the same page with Pakatan on this because the constitutional guarantee must be protected," said Nasharuddin.

MIC wants legal action

Neanwhile, MIC president S Samy Vellu urged the attorney-general to take action against Mukhriz for uttering allegedly seditious words in calling for the closure of vernacular schools.

Echoing opposition leader Lim Kit Siang, the MIC chief said Mukhriz had violated provisions in the federal constitution which protected the position and rights of vernacular schools.

"He has issued a seditious statement and we want the attorney-general to take appropriate action against him," Samy Vellu said in a statement.

"He can contest the Umno Youth chief post but he should not point a dagger at the hearts of the other communities to win the post," he said.

"I am surprised by his statement. Even the great leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Mukhriz's father who was prime minister for 22 years, strictly adhered to the federal constitution and provided assistance to vernacular schools," he said.

At the same time, MIC Youth advisor S Vell Paari, Samy Vellu's son, described Mukhriz's statement as "irresponsible."

"This is a totally irresponsible view of a leader who aspires to the highest position in Umno Youth, the largest Youth component in Barisan Nasional," he said.