Tuesday May 14, 2013

Palanivel and Kulasegaran slam calls to abolish vernacular schools

I’m really shocked by the statements as I felt that they are uncalled for ... I find the statements seditious in nature. - M. KULASEGARAN

PETALING JAYA: MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said calling for vernacular schools to be abolished was not a good move.

He said the performance of pupils in Tamil primary schools in the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah has improved with more than a thousand scoring straight As.

“After completing their primary education in Tamil schools, they go on to study at national secondary schools and mingle with all races. There are also many Malay and Indian pupils studying in Chinese schools. Similarly, there are also Malay and orang asli studying in Tamil primary schools,” he pointed out.

Palanivel was commenting on calls by educationists that only single stream schools be allowed to strengthen national unity.

Universiti Teknologi Mara pro-chancellor Tan Sri Dr Abdul Rahman Arshad noted that only 10% of non-Malays study in national schools.

“If we allow such schools, talk about unity will only be lip service,” the former education director-general was quoted as saying.

Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran condemned the calls for vernacular schools to be done away with, claiming they were seditious.

The DAP national vice-chairman lodged a police report on the matter at the district police headquarters here yesterday.

“I’m really shocked by the statements as I felt that they are uncalled for.

“Mother-tongue education is assured under the Federal Constitution.

“I find the statements seditious in nature and I urge the police to take the necessary action,” he said.

Kulasegaran noted that in 1978, a Member of Parliament from Sabah, Mark Koding, had also called for vernacular schools to be closed during a debate in Parliament.

He was subsequently charged under the Sedition Act, found guilty and disqualified as an MP.

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