PM: Not right to object to 'khat', other written languages were never opposed

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said objections to introducing khat to the Bahasa Malaysia primary school syllabus are "not right."

He said this was as the written scripts of other languages were never opposed in Malaysia previously.

“The Chinese written script is not allowed in other countries, including nations such as the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.

“It is something special in Malaysia, which did not bar the written script of the respective communities,” he was quoted as saying by New Straits Times.

Speaking at a dialogue with university undergraduates in Malacca today, Mahathir said that it was not right that some quarters in DAP to object to khat.

According to Utusan Malaysia, the prime minister noted that only some in DAP are opposed to the Jawi script.

He was also reported as saying that khat is a fine art and its teaching should be continued.

In the last few days, the proposal to introduce khat writing for Standard 4 students in vernacular schools had become a heated topic.

A group of 138 DAP branch and division leaders, along with 11 state assemblypersons, had protested against the move on grounds that it would institutionalise and politicise the Jawi script.

DAP is expected to discuss the matter internally on Monday.

Education Minister Maszlee Malik said today the ministry's move was not aimed at "establishing Islamisation in vernacular schools."