Khat lessons to proceed as only ‘small faction’ opposed to it, says PM

Updated 6 years ago · Published on 3 Aug 2019 8:42PM · 9 Comments

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad speaking in Malacca today. He says the government will go ahead with the teaching of khat to Standard Four pupils in vernacular schools. – August 3, 2019.

THE government will go ahead with the teaching of khat, or Jawi, to Standard Four pupils in vernacular schools, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.

He acknowledged there were objections but said they were from just a small group of people.

“I don’t think everyone in DAP opposes it, maybe just a faction of the party is against it, so I think we can continue with it,” he said as quoted by Utusan.

He was taking questions at a townhall session at Hatten Hotel in Malacca today.

Dr Mahathir added that Malaysia was unique as Chinese script was allowed to be taught here unlike in countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.

The introduction of khat as part of the Bahasa Malaysia subject in Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools has met with opposition from Chinese education groups.

Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik has denied that the policy, introduced by the Barisan Nasional government in 2016, was a surreptitious way of indoctrinating schoolchildren in Islam.

He said khat was a legitimate part of the Bahasa Malaysia legacy and that it would take up just a fraction of the time allocated to the teaching of the language. Pupils will also not be assessed via examinations on khat.

Earlier today, a group of DAP representatives released a statement urging the government to scrap the plan to teach khat in vernacular schools. – August 3, 2019.

Sign up or sign in here to comment.

Comments

  • Anybody else beginning to feel that Mahathir is becoming Pakatan's biggest liability? But don't just take these things at face value. The father of Malaysian political machinations always plays a zero-sum game.

    Posted 6 years ago by Rock Hensem · Reply

  • Other languages are taught here, yes, but they are never forced upon any particular group of people.

    Khat by its nature, is a calligraphy, an art. Forcing people to learn an art is like asking a handicapped to play guitar, a mute to sing a song. Really makes no sense!

    Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

    • Yes, you are right. Pupils in vernacular school should be given the freedom to choose. If the government introduce Chinese or Tamil in national school, then we have no reason to object

      Posted 6 years ago by Michael Loh · Reply

  • No point to tell the govt of the day any problem bcoz ALL IS GOIN TO DEAF EARS. TDM do whatever u like Whatever pleases u. Nature gave u a chance to CORRECT not to CREATE MORE .

    Posted 6 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply

  • PH is a one term government, as it is no different from BN. Let the country sink, for only then will the Malays learn the hard way, that they need the non-Malays to survive.

    Posted 6 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply

    • I totally agree. Without non-malays especially Chinese and Indians, Malaysia is doomed to fail no matter who is the government. Malaysia is a multi racial country and not only Malay

      Posted 6 years ago by Michael Loh · Reply

  • True let them SINK. Let them learn the hard way we non malays are just like BARKING. Stop the Bark.

    Posted 6 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply

  • Khat is Bersatu, PKR and Amanah strategy to rope malay votes for GE15

    Posted 6 years ago by S L · Reply

  • Even if intro by BN last time, but they never implement it. PH government are no difference from BN government. Next GE, we should vote back BN since we all know how PH do their job while they are in power

    Posted 6 years ago by Michael Loh · Reply