PETALING JAYA, Nov 12— Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said that sensitive issues can be discussed in a rational manner at the Umno General Assembly in the wake of  suggestions that the vernacular schooling system in the country can be scrapped.

“Through the general assembly (Umno General Assembly), we make a collective stand, be it in the context of the Sedition Act, security related issues or education related matters.

“Whether or not it can be translated and accepted by parties representing other race or religion, we have been doing our best from last time by not dividing our country, affecting the multi-racial community and not hurting the sensitivities of those of other race and belief,” he said.

Hishammuddin said that the maturity of Umno’s struggle today comes after the ‘testing times’ the party had experienced before this.

“Even if it’s a sensitive issue, people will be able to accept it if it is discussed rationally,” he told a press conference after launching Umno’s roundtable discussion here.

Petaling Jaya Utara Umno deputy division chief Mohamad Azli Mohemed Saad was reported by dailies Mingguan Malaysia and New Sunday Times (NST) last month as saying that Chinese vernacular school system should be abolished as it purportedly promotes racism and anti-establishment sentiments.

He also urged the topic to be discussed at the upcoming annual Umno meeting this month and that Umno should also mull raising the intake of Malay and Indian students and teachers in Chinese schools to 60 per cent.

The same month, Cheras Umno division chief Datuk Seri Syed Ali Al Habshee also called for vernacular schools to be done away with, citing such system as being the reason for disintegration and disunity.

“We cannot run from the issue of one stream schooling, efforts to strengthen the position of national schools, religion and economic welfare of the bumiputera,” Hishammuddin who is also the Defence Minister said, ahead of the Umno General Assembly slated for November 25 till November 29.