THE Kuala Lumpur High Court has set July 2 to hear a lawyer’s application to withdraw his suit that seeks to declare vernacular schools unconstitutional.

Judge Nordin Hassan set the date during case management today.

He also directed the plaintiff, Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz, and three interveners in the suit, namely the Chinese Language Council, Tamil Language Association and Confederation of Former Tamil School Pupils, to file their submissions before June 25.

The interveners, represented by lawyer T. Gunaseelan, are objecting to Khairul Azam’s withdrawal application.

Counsel Abdul Rahim Sinwan, acting for the plaintiff, told reporters that besides the three parties, two defendants, namely the government and education minister, and another 11 interveners do not object to the withdrawal bid.

In January, Khairul Azam filed the suit seeking a declaration that Sections 28 and 17 of the Education Act 1996 (Act 550), allowing the use of the Chinese and Tamil languages as the main medium of instruction in vernacular schools, are against Article 152 of the federal constitution.

On February 12, Nordin allowed 14 political parties and organisations to intervene in the suit.

They are MIC, MCA, Gerakan, Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia, Pertubuhan Generasi Baru Melaka, Persatuan Thamizhar Malaysia, Persatuan Tamilar Thurunal (Perak), Persatuan Gabungan Kebajikan Guru-Guru Bersara Sekolah Tamil, Dong Zong, Jiao Zong, Malaysian Chinese Language Council, Persatuan Malaysia Tamil Neri Kalagam, Gabungan Persatuan Bekas Pelajar Sekolah Tamil Malaysia and SMJK (C) Chong Hwa.

Khairul Azam, however, then sought to withdraw the suit. – Bernama, June 2, 2020.