Deal with fallout from VC’s Malay forum speech, MCA tells Education Ministry

Ravin Palanisamy Ravin Palanisamy Updated 6 years ago · Published on 17 Oct 2019 2:27PM · 5 Comments

MCA president Wee Ka Siong has called for action from the Education Ministry over the speech made by Universiti Malaya vice-chancellor Abdul Rahim Hashim. – The Malaysian Insight pic, October 17, 2019.

THE Education Ministry should accept that it has a problem with Universiti Malaya after its vice-chancellor gave a racially-tinged speech at the Malay Dignity Congress, said MCA president Wee Ka Siong.

Wee said Abdul Rahim Hashim’s speech has sparked student activist Wong Yan Ke to protest onstage during the university’s convocation on Monday.

Wee, who is Ayer Hitam MP, said the ministry should step in rather than hope the issue will go away.

“The speech by the vice-chancellor is the cause of the whole fracas.

“I am disappointed with the government leaders, especially Maszlee (Education Minister Maszlee Malik) and Teo Nie Ching (deputy minister). They should speak up and this is under their ministry.

“They should be sensitive towards this issue. They just cannot remain silent. There must be immediate action from the government,” said Wee, who was deputy education minister from 2008 to 2013.

He added Wong is entitled to his view but should not have jeopardised the convocation ceremony.

“Freedom of speech? Yes, but not to the extent that it should jeopardise the whole ceremony.

“You can express your disagreement with the vice-chancellor’s speech. I think this is the student’s right. It’s ok,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

On Monday, Wong caused a stir when he held up a sign asking Rahim to resign for “promoting racism and hatred” in his speech at Malay Dignity Congress earlier this month.

After receiving his scroll on stage, Wong unfolded a sign while shouting out “Tolak Rasis” (reject racists), “Undur VC” (vice-chancellor resign) and “This is Malaysia”.

Wong is now being investigated by the police for intentional insult. – October 17, 2019.

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Comments

  • Mazlee is one who deserves these harsh words from Wee. No one is willing to support him for he has made too many blunders.

    Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Wee.
    This insignificant and totally irrelevant chap thinks someone out there is still paying attention to him or MCA.

    We are in these state of affairs, b'cos the likes of MCA did not stand up to UMNO in the past

    Posted 6 years ago by Rock Hensem · Reply

  • The UM VC should resign since by his racially tinged speech at the Malay Dignity Congress, he has brought the office of the Vice Chancellor into disrepute. No civil servant and academic paid from the Malaysian public purse should be allowed to publicly make racist statements whilst in the employ of the Government. If Maslee Malik does not understand this basic principle, he should stand down as Education Minister. He does not seem to realise that he is the Minister of Education for the whole country not only for one particular community. And yet he contributes nothing to national unity by attending the ill-fated congress. After 62 years of Independence, we are still bogged down with racism and religious bigotry which have eroded national unity due to political expediency. If the UM VC is not replaced, the country is headed for disaster and self-destruction. It is a tragedy we have a PM who refuses to promote national unity but who instead panders to racists in order to secure political advantage. Quo vadis, national unity?

    Posted 6 years ago by Panchen Low · Reply

  • You would expect Teo Nie Ching to at least stand up to the bullying VC and UM. Her silence is deafening. Where have her principles gone. Just another politician. Malaysia Baru my a**.

    Posted 6 years ago by Kinetica Cho · Reply

  • He lost face because a tiny little fly dare to protest against this giant VC, so he brought out his sledgehammer to squash this tiny fly, and all his professor friends supported him! This poor little guy stood alone to face the police and the gang of professors, poor kid!

    Posted 6 years ago by Alex Liew · Reply