VERNACULAR schools are not the cause of racial conflicts as claimed by Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, said a DAP assemblyman from Penang.

Bagan Dalam rep Satees Muniandy said the cause of racial friction in Malaysia is racial politicking by the likes of Asri, who “survives on race-baiting”.

Satees took issue with Asri’s claims on his Facebook page yesterday.

Asri posted that conflict and unrest between the races will remain “as long as vernacular schools do not use the national language and are not eliminated from the country”.

Asri posted this following the police’s move to obtain a court order to stop a congress planned for last Saturday by Chinese education groups under Dong Jiao Zong from meeting to discuss the introduction of Jawi writing to Standard 4 vernacular school pupils.

Asri also urged his social media followers to support a petition calling for the closure of vernacular schools.

Satees said Asri’s claim that vernacular schools do not use Bahasa Malaysia is untrue, as the subject is taught to pupils.

He also rejected claims that vernacular schools are harmful to race relations, pointing out discriminatory acts that made the news had taken place in national schools.

“The incident where non-Muslim pupils were told to eat in a toilet didn’t occur in a vernacular school.

“Likewise, it was not in a vernacular school where drinking cups for pupils were separated according to their religion.

“So, those who are blaming vernacular schools for ‘lack of unity’ and communal friction should understand the reality on the ground first before commenting about it,” Satees said in a statement today.

“Vernacular schools are no less than national schools in promoting national language, national identity and unity.

“In fact, sometimes vernacular schools are much better in that aspect, compared with national schools.”

Satees said racial friction in Malaysia has increased after the general elections last year as the “losers race to win over their vote base”.

“Each and everything are being turned into a race argument and politicised.

“Asri has not helped to cool down the temperature (but) instead increased it with his statements.”

Satees also criticised the authorities for keeping a lid on communal sentiments, citing the lack of action against Indian preacher Zakir Naik, despite complaints and police reports that he had insulted Malaysian Hindus and Chinese.

He said the police investigation into Zakir has yet to yield any outcome.

“Aren’t the authorities aware that inaction in this case will send a message that such insults are normal, and action won’t be taken against those making such insulting comments?

“No wonder racial, religious hatred are all over social media.

“Malaysia is being ‘failed’ by biased, directionless authorities.” – December 31, 2019.