THE Sarawak cabinet will decide at its next cabinet meeting on January 16 which way it would go on the controversial issue of teaching Jawi in the state schools.

State Education Minister Michael Manyin, when asked if Sarawak would follow neighbouring Sabah’s lead in making Jawi an optional subject, said he would bring the matter up for discussion at the cabinet meeting.

“Just like in Sabah, the decision has to come from the cabinet. I believe the state cabinet will decide at next meeting,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Sabah Rural and Regional Development Minister Ewon Bendick had said back on December 28 that the Arabic script should be taught only if the students wished to learn the subject.

Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg, when asked the same question earlier at a press conference, dismissed the controversy as “petty”.

“I do not want to be dragged into this petty issue. To me it is very petty. Why should we be dragged into this?”

He hinted, however, that parents in Sarawak would have the option to decide what they want for their children.

“If they want, they can have (Jawi taught to their children). If they don’t want, it’s up to them.

“Sarawak has its own policy which is why we do not want these petty things to come to Sarawak. We are more concerned about our economy.”

Abang Johari said Sarawak was more concerned about tackling the economic woes of the country, such as the rising cost of living, than take part in the squabble over Jawi.

“We have to tackle the cost of living, that should be our prime concern.

“How to help our people. That should be our top priority.

The controversy came to a head when the police were given a court injunction to stop Chinese education group Dong Jiao Zong from holding a congress on the Jawi issue.

Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Chong Chieng Jen had described the police action as “regrettable”.

The Sarawak DAP and Pakatan Harapan leader said the police had acted against the PH manifesto on freedom of assembly as well as the federal constitution guaranteeing freedom of expression and association.

He implored the federal cabinet and PH Presidential Council to “act urgently to address this issue before the government moves further from our PH manifesto”. – January 2, 2020.