IT was decided at a meeting today between de facto Islamic affairs minister Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa and Chinese educationist group Dong Jiao Zong that Jawi lessons in school would not be used as a tool to convert schoolchildren to Islam.

Mujahid said this at a joint press conference after the meeting, where he said it was also made clear that Dong Jiao Zong was not anti-Jawi.

“There should be no motive to Islamise. That we both agree on and we also agreed that Jawi is part of our national treasure that must be protected. The same goes for other scripts,” Mujahid added.

He said the two parties had also found other points of agreement on an issue that has threatened social unity.

Among these was that the issue must swiftly be put to rest to ensure national harmony.

“All of us here today agreed that this issue has reached a boiling point and that it needs to be de-escalated to ensure peace and harmony in the country.”

A quick resolution was also needed, he said, so that the issue would not be further exploited by certain parties for political mileage.

“The issue here is only the method of implementation of the subject. There should be engagement as well as constructive discussion with all stakeholders.”

Mujahid said that what was discussed in today’s conference would be brought to the attention of the cabinet at the next meeting

“My ministry does not have the power to decide on this but I will explain to the cabinet about this meeting at the next meet-up.”

Meanwhile, Dong Zong president Tan Tai Kim thanked Mujahid for taking the time to meet with the Chinese educationists.

He reiterated that the issue must not be used to incite hatred among Malaysians.

“I would like to offer my gratitude to the minister and his ministry for agreeing to meet us for a discussion,” Tan said.

“We realise the tension (the issue has cause) and we do not want to destabilise what we have built as a nation. We are open to any discussion with any parties to discuss this issue.”

Dong Zong is a component of Dong Jiao Zong, an umbrella group of Chinese school boards and teachers.

The matter of introducing Jawi in the vernacular schools has been a contentious one since it was proposed last year.  While the Chinese and Tamil education groups have baulked at the idea, Malay pressure groups have held demonstrations urging the government to go ahead with the proposal.

Non-Malay groups, particularly Dong Jiao Zong, have disagreed and called instead for more discussions between the government and the stakeholders.

Forums have been held to talk about the issue and memorandums of protests have also been submitted to the Education Ministry for further action. – January 15, 2020.