Rush to back petition to abolish vernacular schools after Perlis mufti’s endorsement

Alfian Z.M. Tahir Alfian Z.M. Tahir Updated 6 years ago · Published on 31 Dec 2019 5:55PM · 6 Comments

Mufti Perlis Dr Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin blames vernacular schools for the racial tension in the country. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, December 31, 2019.

SUPPORT for an online petition to abolish vernacular schools has been slow for months but flared up when Perlis Mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin posted the plea on Facebook on Monday.

The five-month old petition on change.org had 125,000 signatories yesterday, but this number ballooned to 146,670 so far today, just shy of its 150,000 target. 

Asri’s post was shared by more than a thousand Facebook followers, liked by 6,000 users and received 500 comments. 

Most of them support closing down Chinese and Indian vernacular schools, believing that these institutions cause racial and religious tension.

Yesterday, Asri blamed vernacular schools for the race and religious issues in the country before posting a Facebook note on the petition.

The petition, also calls for  the creation of “one national Malaysian stream”.

Asri, or better known as Dr Maza, said disagreements among the country’s various communities would persist as long as vernacular education exists.

Asri’s comments come after a court barred Chinese education group Dong Jiao Zong from holding a conference on Jawi on Saturday.

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

“We must unite and forget our differences in trying to restore the country’s strength with political power that will deal with this insolence firmly.” – December 31, 2019.

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Comments

  • There are solid evidence that nations where people speak one single language do have serious conflicts too. Don't be naive and use language as an excuse to camouflage your intolerance and racist behaviour.

    Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

    • Even when people believe in the same god, they inflict pains on each other among themselves. This is happening very close to you. This has been worlds greatest laughing stock. So, do reflect what you preach and be repentent to your almighty.

      Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Using a foreign language like Khat to split the Muslims and Non Muslims? PM must be a real crook to allow this issue to be played up. My trust on him diminishing further. He may not sold the country but neither does he do anything good for the country. Malaysia may continue to doom. Sorry especially the younger generation Malaysians.

    Posted 6 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • Had so much hope for this nation when umno was thrown off from power ..
    Now... everything back to square one
    What a disappointment!!!

    Posted 6 years ago by Charis W · Reply

  • PH, namely Bersatu, is a major disappointment.

    Posted 6 years ago by Sidney Karan · Reply

  • You can close vernacular schools only if you open up UiTM, Malay College and MRSM to non Malays. Also, you must close down tahfiz schools and other reliigious schools, and matriculation college. If not, you are just a munafik and very unbecoming of a religious leader.

    Posted 6 years ago by T E · Reply