KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 ― Putrajaya’s move to build 10 new Chinese primary schools and relocate six others to better locations proves Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has not given in to “extremists” from within his own party, an MCA leader said today.
The Barisan Nasional Chinese party’s publicity chief Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker said the Umno president showed “political courage” to acknowledge the importance of Chinese primary vernacular schools at a time when extreme rightists are clamouring for the closure of those schools
“MCA is proud and thankful to Putrajaya under the premiership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak for his political courage to acknowledge the continuous development of Chinese primary vernacular schools,” the MCA leader said in a statement.
“At a time whereby extreme rightists are clamouring for the closure of such vernacular schools to be replaced by a single national type educational system,” he added.
Yesterday, the Education Ministry announced the construction of 10 new Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) to meet the educational needs of the Chinese community.
Its minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the construction of the SJKCs, five each in Johor and Selangor will be implemented in a rapidly developing region with a large Chinese population.
Ti said the latest announcement provides yet another proof that the government under the leadership of Najib “is sincere and will continue to be Constitutional Compliant”.
“MCA is happy that the PM did not cave in to extremist demands for the closure of Chinese schools.
“Unlike Tun Dr Mahathir and Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s hostility towards Chinese education while in power, Najib Razak’s political leadership is one of continuing recognition and development of Chinese education by adopting a policy of inclusiveness and moderation,” he added.
Ti claimed Najib also held his ground against strong pressure on race-relation issues, saying the announcement came amid attacks by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad and his former Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
The MCA man alleged Muhyiddin had tried to compromise Najib’s 1Malaysia policy, in a likely reference to the Pagoh MP’s assertion that he was a Malay first and Malaysian second even when the prime minister was campaigning for greater integration.
Both Dr Mahathir and Muhyiddin are part of the federal Opposition Pakatan Harapan pact now, having founded their own Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.
Ti also noted Najib had amended the Education Act 1966 and asserted that the existence of Chinese schools should not be questioned anymore.
“He had gone one step further to remove the Education Minister’s powers to close down Chinese schools provided by the Act by abolishing this right.
“In the spirit of the Federal Constitution, he had also guaranteed the continuous existence of these schools,” he said.
Ti said MCA will now take Najib’s cue and continue to defend and fight for the recognition of the rights of minorities to mother tongue education.
“We will achieve this by participating from within to ensure that the government will always be Constitutionally Compliant whereby all rights, liberties etc under the Federal Constitution will be respected, upheld and adhered,” he said.
