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SUBANG JAYA: The Malaysian Academic Movement (Gerak) has criticized a call for the abolition of vernacular schools, arguing that such schools have not eroded national identity.
Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the National Association of Patriots (Patriot) poem titled “Obor Akinabalu,” Gerak’s Secretary General Rosli Mahat said that the vernacular schools’ medium of instruction did not affect the spirit of patriotism.
“Vernacular schools have been in the country for a long time. I’ve checked the system and I don’t see anything wrong with it, ”he said.
“Language has nothing to do with whether you are a patriot or not. Language does not represent love for our country ”.
Rosli said this in response to the call of the Vice Minister of Youth and Sports, Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, to abolish these schools in stages.
Wan Ahmad Fayshal, who is also the head of the PPBM Youth, claimed that the vernacular schools had not produced students who possess a “strong national identity.”
Rosli said that this issue had been politicized out of personal interest and to gain support.
He said that if the Malay language was really important in promoting national identity, it should be used in all sectors.
“If language is an important factor, ask universities and doctoral students to use Malay as well,” he said.
He said that people should wonder why parents want to send their children to vernacular schools instead of national schools.
“What is wrong with the educational system in national schools? That’s what people should be focusing on. “
On the sexual harassment case involving a Malaya University professor, Rosli expressed frustration at the Attorney General’s decision to drop the case.
“We are surprised by the decision because sexual harassment is a serious crime and the police should have taken action,” he said.
He said there had been a decline in academic ethics and value.
“Universities are so focused on climbing the ranking when they should be focused on academic ethical rights and values. The ranking is nothing without rights, ”he said.
Meanwhile, Patriot President Mohamed Arshad Raji urged the government to severely punish those who pollute the country’s water sources.
“Apart from the culprits, there should also be a punishment for politicians and public servants who fail to fulfill their responsibilities to ensure the safety of our drinking water,” he said commenting on the Sungai Gong pollution incident.
“Obor Akinabalu” is a critical and forceful poem directed at politicians and political parties who seem to put their own interests before those of the country.
Patriot said the poem reflects a pent-up frustration from the people, not only from Sabah, but also from most Malaysians.
