DAP has expressed disappointment with the police’s decision to obtain a court order restricting Chinese educationist group Dong Jiao Zong from proceeding with its Saturday conference on teaching Jawi writing in vernacular schools, said party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

He said Malaysia allows for free speech, hence the congress should have been allowed to continue.

Dong Jiao Zong is an umbrella group of vernacular school teachers and school committees.

“DAP is disappointed with the police decision to stop Dong Jiao Zong’s congress because if we believe in freedom of speech in this new Malaysia, there is no reason to stop the congress,” Lim told reporters after an event in Putrajaya today.

“For example, if the Malay dignity congress is given the go ahead, this should have been allowed as well,” he added, referring to the event in early October.

“Maybe there are some parties that do not agree with the views raised, but this is an aspect of New Malaysia,” Lim said.

Dong Jiao Zong’s congress was meant to discuss the introduction of Jawi in vernacular schools and also state the stance of Chinese education groups’ against the plan by the Education Ministry.

It was called off at the eleventh hour after police obtained a court order to stop the event.

Lim said the government had agreed to reduce the number of pages, from six to three, on Jawi writing in the vernacular schools’ Year 4 Bahasa Melayu textbook.

The three pages touch on the script as used on the Jata Negara (coat of arms), the ringgit and on stamps.

Lim said its intention is to show the origins of Bahasa Malaysia that has evolved from the Jawi script.

He reaffirmed the cabinet’s decision that was to allow parents, parent and teacher associations, and pupils to decide if the module should be taught in the particular school.

However, this has been rejected by Dong Jiao Zong, which wants school boards to decide on the matter.

“I believe the latest development on the matter will be discussed in the next cabinet meeting,” Lim said. – December 30, 2019.