KUCHING: Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said yesterday the Education Ministry should not bulldoze its policy to include khat or Jawi calligraphy in the primary school curriculum from next year without seeking public opinions.
He said it was disheartening and outrageous to see that the Education Ministry was dead set on implementing it despite widespread opposition from the Chinese and other communities.
“I have never been against giving students the chance to learn more languages and skills. But they should be made elective, not mandatory,” he said.
Tiong added students should be given a choice to opt for the language and writing styles of their choice.
“Has the Education Ministry considered social harmony at all before including Jawi calligraphy against the waves of public outrage against it?” he asked.
Tiong added that instead of whitewashing over this incompetent decision in rhetoric, the PH government, particularly Education Minister Maszlee Malik, should actually listen to the people in order to reignite public confidence in the country’s education system and not take them for fools.
“It goes to show that the minister and his deputy have chosen to completely ignore the wishes of the public. Even with clear public opposition, they have chosen the other extreme, in a wholly undemocratic way.”
Tiong said Maszlee had failed to realise that in Malaysia’s multi-cultural society, any subject related to religion and education were sensitive issues and would arouse concern and debate.
“By mishandling it, Maszlee would be responsible for provoking hatred between races. Will he be able to resolve such issues if they flare up?
“I would like to ask Maszlee whether any real study was done before deciding on the move, especially its impact on the social climate?”
On the same issue, Tiong said whatever statements put up by the DAP was just empty talk now.
He said the statement by Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen was simply to save face after the party had failed miserably to bring the voices of the people they claimed to serve to the Cabinet.
“Chong is an expert on capitalising on hot issues of the day for political mileage and he has not been absent this round, promising to defend Sarawak’s education autonomy and to bring the people’s grievances to the Federal Cabinet.
“But it is beyond puzzling that Chong is only now making a stand on the calligraphy decision. Was he trying to justify the inclusion of Jawi before that? What was he doing?” he added.
Tiong said it was clearly a two-faced approach by Chong to first try to justify the decision and having found no traction, he changed his position on the issue. He has shown no integrity here.
In fact, continuing this kind of political stage show would only cause Sarawakians to resent him more and more, he said.
