Saturday 26 April 2014

All those who oppose Hudud should also support closure of vernacular and religious schools to be replaced by 1Sekolah Untuk Semua

"On one hand we relentlessly push for an end to race-based and religious-based organisations. We loathe the slightest mention of introducing hudud. But on the other hand, insist that Chinese schools must remain in the whole scheme of things. And dubiously claim that it is "mother-tongue education" despite many being raised in dialects other than Mandarin"

"The preference(vernacular schools by Chinese) shows how little the regard is for a common school system that is the practice in most if not all countries, particularly among Malaysia's immediate neighbours and is the basis for the much talked about integration. If we continue to have large numbers being schooled under different systems and do nothing about it, we should stop lamenting about Malaysians not living in harmony"

"What we have now is a very divided arrangement for our children. They do not mingle. The bottom line, therefore, is a common school system, which in our case are the national schools"
Syed Nadzri,NST

"Some Malaysians say that Hudud is against the Perlembagaan, I say there is nothing mentioned about vernacular and religious schools in the Perlembagaan too"

"If you prevent young children from mingling with each other, do you really think they could be forced to mingle as adults, do you see Malays Chinese and Indians youths mixing in coffee shops or our favorite mamak's place now?"

"All those who are against Hudud should also support closing of vernacular and religious schools to be replaced by 1Sekolah Untuk Semua"
Me

A rather good piece from the NST about the language extremists of Dong Zong and their supporters who thinks that they should live like a People's Republic of China citizen in Malaysia and its their right as Malaysian to do so. To prove their point they even wanted to complain with the United Nations should the Gomen insist on implementing the Malaysia Education Blueprint.

Seriously these people should realize they have it pretty good living in Malaysia, no other country on this planet allow vernacular schools. The UN will probably kick their complaint back and tell them all that around Malaysia …..Indonesia, Thailand, Chinese Singapore, The Philippines all have a 1 School system and they should thank their lucky stars that the Malay led Gomen is such tolerant Gomen to allow them such a school that is totally divisive and prevents unity among Malaysians to ever take place.

Dong Zong's ring-a-ding

By Syed Nadzri | syednadzri@gmail.com

NATIONAL SCHOOLS: Even if all is not well, the system at least holds that hope of a more integrated Malaysia.

NOW the pings are unwittingly coming from Dong Zong (the United Chinese Schools Committees' Association of Malaysia) -- a throbbing signal that should alert all Malaysians about the group's declaration it would start a petition and lodge a complaint with the United Nations should the government insist on implementing the Malaysia Education Blueprint.

The ultra-Chinese education group, according to recent news reports, claimed the government would eventually wipe out Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools or what it described as "mother-tongue learning", and make national schools the first choice of school.

Dead against it, Dong Zong said it would make a report to the world body citing "discrimination", foolishly hoping that by putting a gun to the head like that, it would solve things and make it better for everyone.
This, sadly, will remain the great Malaysian contradiction. The perfect irony. We lament continuously about disharmony, all round mistrust and lack of racial integration and yet we reject the slightest effort towards a common school system.

On one hand we relentlessly push for an end to race-based and religious-based organisations. We loathe the slightest mention of introducing hudud. But on the other hand, insist that Chinese schools must remain in the whole scheme of things. And dubiously claim that it is "mother-tongue education" despite many being raised in dialects other than Mandarin.


Consider this: The Dong Zong discrimination claim came at a time when Chinese independent secondary schools were becoming so popular that they had to conduct special entrance exams to enrol pupils. Even so, they had to turn away thousands because of the limited places. So, that accusation was a little misplaced.

It is understood that at least 2,800 Year 6 school-leavers who had applied for admission to the eight Chinese independent schools in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor were turned away earlier this year due to lack of places.

China Press reported recently that the strong demand forced four Chinese schools in Kuala Lumpur -- Confucian Private Secondary School, Tsun Jin High School, Chong Hwa Independent High School and Kuen Cheng High School -- to have entrance examinations to pick the brightest applicants.

By the end of last month, Kuen Cheng, which had 800 places, had received 1,681 applications; Chung Hwa, with 1,000 places, had 1,500 applications; Tsun Jin (530 places) received 900 applications; and Confucian had 530 applicants vying for its 400 places.

In Klang, Selangor, Hin Hua High School received 1,200 applications for its 500 places. The other three schools in the district -- Guan Hwa High School, Chung Hwa Independent High School and Pin Hua High Shool -- received 1,150 applicants for the 1,115 places.

This is still not taking into account vernacular education in total, including national type schools.

The preference shows how little the regard is for a common school system that is the practice in most if not all countries, particularly among Malaysia's immediate neighbours and is the basis for the much talked about integration. If we continue to have large numbers being schooled under different systems and do nothing about it, we should stop lamenting about Malaysians not living in harmony.

Unfortunately, it is even worse for Tamil schools because, apart from the above argument, it is really a pity that the returns from these institutions are very small. I mean, let us be realistic -- what does a person who finishes Tamil school do? And yet for the sake of politics, we find groups demanding "rights" for such schools.

Again, the same for pure religious schools producing ustaz who have no qualms condemning others not aligned to their "edicts". Like the ones mentioned above, they should not be in the mainstream if they defeat the whole purpose of promoting national integration through education.

On this, a glimpse of the concern among Malaysians came through elder statesman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in his latest blog posting on the arrest of veteran thinker Dr Kassim Ahmad.

He said: "Those given the responsibility on Islam in the country are seen as if they prefer the sunnah (practices of the Prophet) to be placed higher than the commandments of God in the Quran.

"Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Islam is a moderate and considerate religion, a religion of fair advice. If it becomes a cruel and brutal religion and places priority in its mazhab (schools of law) more than the Quran in reverence to the teachings of certain leaders, then Muslims will be divided."


What we have now is a very divided arrangement for our children. They do not mingle. The bottom line, therefore, is a common school system, which in our case are the national schools.

Even if all is not well with national schools -- like deteriorating English proficiency among teachers and damning reports from international bodies -- the system at least holds that hope of a more integrated Malaysia.

Now, the task is to plug all the weaknesses. A big task that requires more than just a master plan not too long ago and a blueprint now.

End.

It is high time that the Gomen close the vernacular school and religious school and convert all to National type schools where mother tongue language and religion be taught as a subject for each. End the voluntary segregation of our children in schools and lets get on the way to a truly united Malaysia. Enough is enough.

Hua Zong/Dong Zong mesti faham maksud 'DiMana Bumi Dipijak, DiSitu Langit DiJunjung'

'Di mana bumi dipijak, di situ langit dijunjung'
Seseorang itu akan mengikuti adat resam sesuatu tempat dan menghormati kawasan setempat.
Peribahasa Melayu

"SJKs only disunite the people. We should now have government primary schools, government secondary schools. The existing SJKs should be changed to government schools,” 
Former Appeals Court judge Datuk Mohd Noor Abdullah

Malay Teachers Union of West Malaysia (Kesatuan Guru Guru Melayu Malaysia Barat-KGMMB) president, Datuk Mohd Sabri Mohd Asad said that Dong Zong should not look at their own agendas and perspective only, 
'If a national unity is what they lamented, why persistent in maintaining vernacular schools?'

'Mandarin is spoken and used as a communication tool widely all around the world, correct and granted. 
So is French, Japanese, German, Arabic, Russian etc. So what is so special about Mandarin, the lingua franca of China Chinese and a scattering of overseas Chinese.

Dong Zong/Hong Zong and the Malaysian of Chinese ethnicity must understand that you are Malaysian in Malaysia and the official language is Bahasa Malaysia (not even Bahasa Melayu if you insist!). So what is the beef about teaching Bahasa Malaysia in Malaysian schools? 

Haven't you got the right to teach mother tongue language which should be Hokkien, Cantonese, Hakka and whatever in government built learning institutions which doesn't exist anywhere else in this wide world? 
Mandarin is not your daily home spoken language, it is the language of mandarins and Chinese government language. 

You should go by the saying; 'when in a grouping of cattle, moo like one and when in a grouping of sheep bleat like a sheep'. 

So pathetic and acting like agents of divisive enemy of state!'
Anon;Only Ramblings

I think this Dong Zong or Hua Zong people and their supporter should really have a look at what they have already. Malaysia is the only COUNTRY in the world which allows vernacular schools means it allows voluntary segregation, for how long does Dong Zong and Hua Zong wants the Chinese to live separate lives from the rest of Malaysians? 

This artificial condition cannot last forever, the Chinese in Malaysia are a shrinking minority…time to stop living in a vacuum and join the rest of Malaysian in unity towards a common goal..prosperity and development for all, NOT just the Chinese ok.

If Hua Zong/Dong Zong people cannot agree with the Gomen's initiative on national unity, then tough!  …..you do however have other alternatives…this is a free country u know. Good Bye! Don't worry about us we will and can survive and prosper without you people. 

Here is something I took from MOLE.my:
Hua Zong questions Government's initiative on national unity
Saturday, April 26, 2014
KUALA LUMPUR: Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Hua Zong) has come out to back its counterpart, the United Chinese Schools Committees' Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) in supporting the existence of Chinese vernacular schools.

Hua Zong’s vice-president and education bureau Lau Chee Boon questioned the Government’s initiative by making Bahasa Malaysia as the main medium, saying that it’s a wrong concept of unity, pointing out the split among the Malays as seen in the political parties - Umno, PKR and PAS.

“Bahasa Malaysia is a common language. If this is a concept of unity, then why are the Malays themselves splitting into different political groups? This shows that it’s a wrong concept of unity,” he spoke to The Mole during a telephone interview.

Lau explained that Mandarin is widely spoken around the world and that businesses depends on its usage to communicate with foreign Chinese customers, suggesting that vernacular schools should be seen as an asset rather than a liability.

“Vernacular schools are assets not liabilities as they help to boost the country economically,” he said.

He added that vernacular schools is not going to affect the country’s unity or education system in any way, as 90 per cent of the children who went to vernacular primary school would shift to a national-type secondary school.

Lau also clarified that vernacular school is a multiracial avenue that encouraged children to ‘pick up’ tertiary language, next to Bahasa Malaysia and English, in this case Mandarin.

He also stated that 15 percent of the students in Chinese vernacular schools are Malays and Indian as compared to the 90 percent of Malay students in a national primary school.

Commenting on improving the situation, he said: “I think the Government has to start viewing things based on meritocracy.”

Prior to this, Malay Teachers Union of West Malaysia (Kesatuan Guru Guru Melayu Malaysia Barat-KGMMB) president Datuk Mohd Sabri Mohd Asad said in a report that Dong Zong’s persistence in upholding their agenda in maintaining Chinese vernacular schools would further divide the people, a racial gap that the Government is trying to narrow down.

“It’s not as if we have a blatant disregard for other races’ heritage and culture, in fact the Government had been supportive in helping vernacular schools,” he was quoted.

New Straits Times columnist, Syed Nazri said that Dong Zong are contradicting themselves by lamenting on national unity but persistent on maintaining vernacular schools, instead of single stream schools.

Dong Zong along with other Chinese Education groups had previously been fighting for the recognition of UEC in Malaysia to enable students from Chinese schools to gain admission to public universities.

In a report, academicians had called for vernacular schools be changed to single stream schools to strengthen national unity.

Universiti Technologi Mara (UiTM) pro-chancellor Tan Sri Dr Abdul Rahman Arshad said vernacular schools developed at a faster pace and that only 10 percent of non-Malays studied in national schools.

"The rest are in vernacular schools. It is clear that racism is expanding widely, this continues with private secondary chools and national-type secondary schools," he was quoted as saying.

Former Appeals Court judge Datuk Mohd Noor Abdullah said that he wanted national-type schools (SJKs - Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan) to be abolished as they were not recognised under the constitution.

"SJKs only disunite the people. We should now have government primary schools, government secondary schools. The existing SJKs should be changed to government schools,” he was quoted as saying.

Read this too from the Mole.my:

Thursday, April 24, 2014
KUALA LUMPUR : United Chinese School Committees' Association of Malaysia’s (Dong Zong) should stop looking at a single race perspective only, but rather view matters from the national level, a teachers' union said.

Malay Teachers Union of West Malaysia (Kesatuan Guru Guru Melayu Malaysia Barat-KGMMB) president Datuk Mohd Sabri Mohd Asad said Dong Zong’s persistence in upholding their agenda in maintaining Chinese vernacular schools would further divide the people, a racial gap that the Government is trying to narrow down.

“It’s not as if we have a blatant disregard for other races’ heritage and culture, in fact the Government had been supportive in helping vernacular schools,” he spoke to The Mole in a telephone interview.

Mohd Sabri was contacted following a recent article on New Straits Times by columnist, Syed Nazri, who said Dong Zong are contradicting themselves by lamenting on national unity but persistent on maintaining vernacular schools, instead of single stream schools.

He added that the Government had been supportive towards the vernacular schools, giving them aid in terms of funds for the school’s maintenance and that even national-type schools had lesser aid.

Mohd Sabri said that Dong Zong is under a misaligned perspective that the Government are trying to eradicate Chinese culture by calling for vernacular schools to be changed to single stream schools to strengthen national unity.

“That is their fear. When Chinese students master the usage of Bahasa Malaysia as the main medium, they are afraid that it will affect the Chinese identity and heritage negatively,” he added.

Mohd Sabri urged the Government to stick with their decision on implementing the National Education Blueprint that emphasises on the usage of Bahasa Malaysia as the main medium and not to heed to Dong Zong’s call.

He also said the Education Ministry (MOE) should stick with a more improvised and solid structure of the education system, instead of ‘shifting the goal post’ often times.

“Language represents culture, if we do not make Bahasa Malaysia as the main medium like what our neighbouring countries have done, this would result to further divide, leaving Malaysians lacking in their own identity,” Mohd Sabri explained.

Prior to this, former Dong Zong’s secretariat chief executive officer, Bock Tai Hee said in areport that the organisation's leadership had split into Team A and Team B, with each planning to move a vote of no-confidence on the other in the May 11 conference.

Bock said insider news that Dong Zong is split is heart-wrenching and wanted president Yap Sin Tian to prove it wrong as "I like unity within the Chinese education movement to prevail", he was quoted as saying.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Dong Zong drafted a complaint to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the UN Educational, Scientific and Culture Organisation (Unesco) over what it claims was oppression and discrimination faced by vernacular schools in Malaysia.

Its president Yap said the Chinese education movement would also submit its views on the predicament of these schools to the Prime Minister, Education Minister and Parliamentarians from both sides of the political divide.

Dong Zong along with other Chinese Education groups had previously been fighting for the recognition of UEC in Malaysia to enable students from Chinese schools to gain admission to public universities.

In a report, academicians had called for vernacular schools be changed to single stream schools to strengthen national unity.

Universiti Technologi Mara (UiTM) pro-chancellor Tan Sri Dr Abdul Rahman Arshad said vernacular schools developed at a faster pace and that only 10 percent of non-Malays studied in national schools.

"The rest are in vernacular schools. It is clear that racism is expanding widely, this continues with private secondary chools and national-type secondary schools," he was quoted as saying.

Former Appeals Court judge Datuk Mohd Noor Abdullah said that he wanted national-type schools (SJKs - Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan) to be abolished as they were not recognised under the constitution.

"SJKs only disunite the people. We should now have government primary schools, government secondary schools. The existing SJKs should be changed to government schools,” he was quoted as saying.

In response, Dong Zong has called on the government to take action against Abdul Rahman and Mohd Noor over their "extreme" views.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin reportedly said that Dong Zong must “meet the demands and requirements” of the Education Ministry in order for the UEC to be recognised.

In response, Dong Zong has expressed concerns that the Government may be deliberately suppressing the development of vernacular schools in favour of the rollout of a master education plan.

Thursday 24 April 2014

Tun Hanif: Malay Chinese Friction Sparked During MPAJA Rule in 1945

"I notice that there are lots of people who do not accept this story. I guess its because Tun Haniff said the truth about their community? 1969 event is another event that was that was not accepted as well. The Japanese apologise for their actions, I can't see any chinese leader including the Gerakan leader or the late chin peng apologising to the malay community for their actions? I guess maybe this is what they should do in order to move on? That way maybe then we would see UMNO apologising to Chinese about the killings of chinese in 1969?"
Maza Iraza

Interesting article from RPK's MT, I am posting the comments section as well:

EX-IGP: MALAY-CHINESE FRICTION SPARKED DURING ANTI-JAPANESE ARMY’S RULE

Ida Lim, Malay Mail Online
The country’s interracial tension especially between the Malays and the Chinese traces back to the latter group’s “cruel rule” during the pre-independence period, former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tun Mohammed Haniff Omar claimed today.
Haniff explained that this purported hostility between the communities did not exist before then, saying it was only sparked during a brief spell in 1945 when the Malayan People’s Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA) declared itself to be in control.
“Pertempuran (clashes) between races never happened from zaman ke zaman (era to era) until the Chinese ruled cruelly part of the Malaya peninsular through the Malayan Communist Party (CPM) and Kuomintang in August, September 1945.
“Since then, Peninsular (Malaysia) has racial problems,” the retired policeman said during a luncheon talk titled “Cabaran Keselamatan Awam Masa Kini” (Today’s Public Security Challenges).
Pointing to the Chinese community’s presence here that traced back to the Malacca Sultanate without issue, the former police chief said race had never been a problem until that point in 1945.
Before independence, Peninsular Malaysia was carved up into the Federated Malay states, Unfederated Malay states and Straits Settlement — all under British rule.
Japan invaded then-Malaya in 1941, with its occupation ending in 1945 when it surrendered.
In a brief period spanning two to three weeks before the British returned and established the British Military Administration of Malaya on September 12, 1945, the only “organised force” then was the MPAJA commanded by the CPM and the Kuomintang, Haniff said.
During the brief MPAJA rule, Haniff said this “force” imposed a curfew on Malay males and killed those who breached the curfew.
This was despite the Chinese then having only British subjects status in the Straits Settlements rather than citizens in the Malay states, he said.
The MPAJA also hunted down collaborators of the Japanese and civil servants such as the police and village heads before torturing and killing them, he said.
The Malays then became “really aroused” and attacked the Chinese, with the Chinese then being in “great fear” of attacks from the Malays, he said.
“There was complete pandemonium. Until the British had to arrange for Malay and Chinese leaders to get together and promise to keep the peace.
“So we never had this until the Japanese surrendered and the MPAJA took over. That was the start,” the Institute of Public Securityof Malaysia (Ipsom) fellow said.
  • Lim Sim Khean ·  Top Commenter · Puchong
    This ex-IGP is talking nonsense.
    There was absolutely no enemity between the Malays and the Chinese during the Japanese occupation in Malaya. In fact, there was unity in fighting against the invading forces. The two races even went into the jungles, facing hardships to fight the Japanese armies, guerrilla style.
    • Raja Petra Kamarudin ·  Top Commenter · Chief Editor at Malaysia Today
      Read what he said again. He said in the 2-3 weeks AFTER the Japanese surrendered when the MPAJA went on a rampage and killed many people, Malays included and my uncle one of them.
  • Mohamad Abdul Malik ·  Top Commenter · Malaysian Institute in Management
    I do not always agree with what Tun Hanif has to say but I am afraid he was right on this one although his views may be opposed by a lot of people. The root cause of this suspicion and friction was because of the MPAJA attitude and actions during the 14 days they were 'in power' in the then Malaya. And the Malay perception was that the MPAJA was a Chinese movement so to speak. Hence the lingering distrust and suspicion of the Chinese to this day.
    • Raja Petra Kamarudin ·  Top Commenter · Chief Editor at Malaysia Today
      Yeap, my uncle was also killed by these Chinese in the 2 weeks after the Japanese surrendered. For many years after that many of my relatives were scared of the Chinese.
  • Vincent Tong ·  Top Commenter · Kuantan
    2 or 3 weeks can create such great animosity that can prevail for over more than half a century? In my humble opinion, the May 13 incident had a more profound impact on the Malay - Chinese dichotomy. Anyway MPAJA or CPM for that matter does not represent the Chinese. Just like Perkasa does not represent all Malays. This another desperate attempt to demonise the Chinese.
    • Raja Petra Kamarudin ·  Top Commenter · Chief Editor at Malaysia Today
      As soon as the Japanese surrendered the MPAJA entered the towns and started killing those viewed as British and/or Japanese lackeys. Their objective was to take over the country by force.

      This frightened the Malays who saw this an an example of what will happen if the Chinese ever came to power. That was why when the CPM started an armed insurrection in 1960 they could not get Malay support. Only the Chinese supported them. The Malays were scared that what they saw in 1945 would again happen in 1960 if the CPM takes over. And in 1969 when it appeared like the Chinese were going to take over the Malays resisted.

      We may say why should what happened in 1945 still frighten the Malays 15 years later in 1960 and again nine years after that in 1969? Well, see what happened in Bosnia and Serbia. Old wounds and distrust take a long time to heal. I feel that was Chin Peng's biggest blunder in 1945. If not the Malays would have been with the CPM and the CPM would not have been a Chinese movement save for a small handful of Malays.
    • Mohamad Abdul Malik ·  Top Commenter · Malaysian Institute in Management
      Yes, I agree with that. But that was the perception then and now. During the emergency many of the Chinese were born and came from China. Thus the close affinity with their 'motherland' who at that point in time were communists. LKY too have problems with the communists. Why do you think the British created new villages for the Chinese then? They did so because they wanted to isolate the Chinese rural population from the communists who they suspected was helping them. Why were there no Indian new villages? I think we should come to terms with that and move on. No I do not believe this is a desperate attempt by Hanif to demonise the Chinese. He was just calling a spade a spade. You can only solve a problem by correctly identifying the actual causes of the problems. The problems won't go away by being in a state of denial.
    • Vincent Tong ·  Top Commenter · Kuantan
      Raja Petra Kamarudin, I respect your opinion but I beg to differ on the aspect of Chinese taking over the nation. The Chinese were never a majority race and will never be. For the sake of argument, the majority of the Chinese never really supported the CPM, otherwise it would never have been that easy to overcome the CPM. CPM were only be able to garner power by force and not by own volition. Btw, I am sorry for your lose (uncle).
  • Nick Lmk ·  Top Commenter · King George V School (Hong Kong)
    Why dwell on the past? Its history! We should be talking about what needs to be done today to put the country back on the right track. again.Talking about the past is stupid, non-productive and a waste of saliva and will not take this nation and it's citizens anywhere.
    • Raja Petra Kamarudin ·  Top Commenter · Chief Editor at Malaysia Today
      Those who forget history are doomed to repeat its mistakes.
    • Michael Wong ·  · Works at Freelancer
      Raja Petra Kamarudin Yes, but the statement above does not give the whole story. The Japanese planted the seed of hatred between the Chinese and Malay at the time. The Japanese seems to be sided Malay and given them job as police. Chinese continue being killed.
  • Wong FeiHong ·  Top Commenter · Works at Panasonic
    So now how? Should we continue to call all Malaysian Chinese communist and discriminate against them. Is that the way to solve Malaysian's problem. Especially the brain drain issues.
    • Jason Zhou King · Publishing Contractor at Self-Employed
      Rpk u r right those people choosen to b killed were working for jep .among them not only malay but chinese were killed too in great numbers
      • Michael Wong ·  · Works at Freelancer
        I hope you guys to have a look on this as well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLx0V0GK4-A Japanese trying to controlling Malaya at the time to create suspicious between the Chinese and Malay.
        • Low Kee ·  Top Commenter
          Is Tun Haniff trying to blame our racial divide/tension today on the actions of those MPAJA and CPM in 1945?
          There are no more communist lovers in Malaysia today why are PERKASA and ISMA creating such a ruckus?
          • Maza Iraza
            I notice that there are lots of people who do not accept this story. I guess its because Tun Haniff said the truth about their community? 1969 event is another event that was that was not accepted as well. The Japanese apologise for their actions, I can't see any chinese leader including the Gerakan leader or the late chin peng apologising to the malay community for their actions? I guess maybe this is what they should do in order to move on? That way maybe then we would see UMNO apologising to Chinese about the killings of chinese in 1969?