SENI Khat Action Team (Sekat) will consider taking the Jawi issue up to court it is unable to reach an agreement with the government over the teaching of the Arabic script in the vernacular schools.

Group spokesman Arun Doraisamy said the courts would be the last resort.

“We want an engagement. We want a dialogue with all stakeholders – the Malays, Chinese Indians and Sabah, Sarawak. That is the only way if we want to find a say in this issue.”

“(We state) in our resolutions that we want the subject to be postponed until a discussion is held. We want to find a point of equation but if we can’t then we will have to bring this matter to the court as this is a national issue,” he said.

The congress today was held at the Crystal Crown hotel in Petaling Jaya. About 1,100 people showed up to the congress, including a group of Malay individuals who was for Jawi to be taught in schools.

The Malay group was led by actress Ellie Suriati Ibrahim.

The group was initially not allowed into the congress hall but were admitted after a brief discussion with Arun.

Arun and Ellie were seen shaking hands as the group was ushered into the hall.

Arun later addressed the group saying that any differences could be settled in a civilised manner.

He added that he was willing to attend any discussion with the Malay groups with regards to the Jawi conundrum.

“It shows that whatever differences we may have, they can be resolved. Today is proof. They were here and we invited them in because we have no other motive.”

“I am a Malaysian, they are also Malaysians. We can differ in views but we can always talk and discuss. I am ready to attend any of their congress and I will be glad if I can explain to them what we want,” Arun said at the event’s conclusion.

Police officers from the Petaling Jaya district were deployed to monitor the congress which ended peacefully after three hours.

A day ago, a similar congress which was supposed to be held in Kajang was canceled after the district police obtained a court order to stop the meeting, on the grounds that that the congress organised by Chinese educationist group Dong Jiao Zong could provoke racial tension and unrest. – December 29, 2019.