SULTAN Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah of Perak said vernacular schools must ensure their students master the Malay language comparable to, if not better than, students in national schools.    

He said mastering the national language should be made one of the key indices of vernacular schools.      

“The success of the vernacular schools in getting their pupils to master the national language will help build a united nation and minimise the uneasiness of some communities towards vernacular schools,” he said.

The Perak ruler said it was contradictory and ironic that a Malaysian citizen could not understand, speak, write and read in the national language, which is the identity of the nation.      

He was speaking at SM Jenis Kebangsaan Sam Tet 2017 Excellence Award  presentation in Ipoh today. Also present at the event were the Raja Permaisuri of Perak Tuanku Zara Salim, Menteri Besar Zambry Abd Kadir and his wife, Saripah Zulkifli.

Sultan Nazrin said vernacular schools should appreciate the government’s openness in allowing such schools to operate, and they should translate their appreciation by making the schools a place to foster unity among students of various races in the country.

“The founding fathers of this country, when drafting the National Education Policy and the Razak Report, have introduced the concept of a national school stream to unite people from diverse backgrounds.

“But the dynamics that have taken place later presented various new challenges that required modifications. Following that, vernacular schools were given permission to continue operating.”

He said non-Chinese students in vernacular schools should explore the environment of students of various religions, races, cultures and languages ​​to understand and cooperate with each other.       

Sultan Nazrin said this was because the harmonious relationship among the various races played an important role in building a more united and glorious future for Malaysia. – Bernama, October 23, 2017.