By Guo Shu Qing, Wu Zhen Ni
Sin Chew Daily, Oct 9, 2014, front page news
Prime Minister cum Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak tells MCA that Chinese primary school is not an issue to be disputed as Chinese primary school has been part of the national education system.
MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and deputy president Datuk Wee Ka Siong have delivered the unhappy feelings and sentiment of Chinese community to Prime Minister Najib on Monday night after an Umno grass root leader has proposed to close down Chinese primary schools and proposed to discuss the matter in Umno general assembly.
Unchanged fact
Wee, in an exclusive interview with Sin Chew Daily, said Najib agrees that the existence of Chinese primary school should no longer be a topic to be in dispute. At the same time he also stresses that Chinese primary school is part of national education system. This fact is not going to be changed.
“What is the era now, still talk on this issue?”
“What is the era now? We are still talking about this (existence of Chinese primary school)?”
He believes as top leadership of Umno recognizes Chinese primary school as part of the national education system, the issue of “closing down Chinese primary school” would not appear in Umno general assembly. He also believes top leadership of Umno is tackling this issue.
“We can see from historical background that what is the outcome of such issue raised in Umno assembly?”
Wee said that the during a meeting between MCA education consultative committee and Chinese education groups on 7 October, both agreed and insisted that Chinese education should not be wiped out. Instead, it should be given greater room for development.
“This is especially so when China’s economy is on the rise. No one would opt to give up Chinese education at this juncture. I believe Najib agrees on this point. Otherwise why does he send his son Ji Ping to China to learn Chinese?”
Umno grass root does not represent government’s stand
He stresses that the government would not abolish Chinese primary school. Remarks by Umno grass root does not represent government’s stand.
“If government were to abolish Chinese primary school, why does government still list Chinese primary school under development blueprint?”
He reiterates MCA’s stand of defending Chinese education and stresses that “Chinese primary schools are to exist. Chinese primary school is not a threat to national integration.”
Up till now, he says Umno, which has 3 million of members, is still talking about “closing down Chinese primary school”. No matter how hard one defends on the issue. He does not hope such remark to become a trend.
“Unable to gain strong support from the Chinese community, we should reflect on ourselves, make some effort to win the Chinese support. We can’t be burning down the entire mosquito net just because of one mosquito.”
Original Source: 魏家祥：首相認同‧華小存在不容爭議