From Malaysiakini
Vernacular schools an asset to country
K Hoo | Dec 4, 08 4:07pmI refer to the Malaysiakini report Mukhriz: Close down vernacular schools.
The call by Mukhriz Mahathir to close down the vernacular schools is very irrational and racial in tone. He does not seem to know the value of variety and the importance of mastering more than one language.
Vernacular schools an asset to country
Mukriz's Remarks On Integrating Schools Misinterpreted, Says Hishammuddin
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 (Bernama) -- Jerlun Member of Parliament Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir's remarks about integrating vernacular and mainstream schools have been misinterpreted and made polemic by certain quarters, said Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.
"Neither does the remarks have any racial connotations," Hishamuddin, who is also Umno Youth chief, told a press conference at Parliament's lobby Thursday.
He said Mukhriz, who is also an Umno Youth executive committee member, was expressing his views on how to have integration among the races but the opposition had taken it out of context and made it appear as though it was a racial issue.
On Monday, Mukhriz, when speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, had called for single school system to be put in place to check racial polarisation.
Presently, apart from national schools, vernacular schools catering for the various communities till the primary level are allowed to co-exist and receive government aid.
Hishammuddin added that the subject was something that had been discussed since independence but to achieve the goal, it involved many factors like land status, staffing, allocations and consensus from the various communities.
-- BERNAMA
Mukriz's Remarks On Integrating Schools Misinterpreted, Says ...
Bernama, Malaysia
