KUCHING: Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen said it is “not appropriate” to implement the Jawi script teaching in Chinese schools in Sarawak “at the present moment”.
He said the reason for this is that the Chinese community views the proposal to introduce Jawi script (khat calligraphy in the Chinese schools “with suspicion, objection and resentment”.
Chong claimed that DAP Sarawak has heard the majority voices of Sarawakians on the issue of introducing Jawi script writing in Primary Four Chinese schools’ Bahasa Melayu syllabus.
“It may be the Education Ministry’s good intent to introduce Jawi script as part of the new syllabus to promote better understanding amongst school children of different races in Malaysia.
“However, there is too much distrust amongst Sarawakians, especially the Chinese, towards policies formulated in Putrajaya…time is still too short to rebuild the trust and confidence of Sarawakians towards the Federal government,” he told a media conference yesterday.
“As such, the implementation of the art of writing Jawi script in the Chinese schools’ Bahasa Melayu syllabus is viewed by majority Sarawakians, especially in the Chinese community, with suspicion, objection and resentment therefore, it is not appropriate for implementation at present moment.”
He said DAP Sarawak would propose that a special arrangement be made to enable the khat calligraphy teaching optional for Chinese schools in Sarawak.
“We (DAP Sarawak) will convey the majority Sarawakians’ view to the Cabinet on this issue,” he said.
“We will suggest in the Cabinet that in accordance with the autonomy principle, special arrangement be made for the Chinese schools in Sarawak, such as the teaching of Jawi script be made optional for Chinese schools in Sarawak,” he said.
