Make introduction of Jawi optional

COMMENT | I heard that some people say Dong Zong is an extremist organisation. I know them as a group of Chinese organisations committed to protecting Chinese schools. 

I do not think to protect and defend one's language and culture in a multicultural country makes you an extremist. 

Citizens of this country have the right to assemble and express their views on what they consider their rights; so long as they do so peacefully. The right to assemble and to air your beliefs is not just for the Malays - it's for all Malaysians.

Have we become apartheid? With one set of rules for one group and another for the rest of the people? I hope not. I am here to lend support to this fundamental right of everyone to express themselves; free of threat and coercion. Malaysians must unite to oppose hypocrisy and double standards.

The government has made a decision, without much consultation, where vernacular schools must have a Jawi lesson. The non-Malay community could not accept this. If it is optional, they probably would not mind. 

Today I urge the government to resolve the impasse and make this introduction of Jawi optional. There is no compelling reason why Jawi must be made mandatory in Chinese schools at the cost of further breaking up our community.

If the Malays want to go back to using Jawi, by all means, do so; no one is stopping them. If the Chinese schools do not want to use them; similarly, they have the right to do so.

Let the Chinese community prevail over this matter. After all, vernacular schools have contributed immensely to our country by producing a capable workforce. They are here to stay and let's accept them and move on.

There is no need to tinker and reshape vernacular schools. The Constitution under Article 152 (read in totality) protects vernacular schools; and the learning of Chinese, Tamil and other languages. 

The Malays have accepted their existence in the last 60 years; there is no reason for them to oppose them now, although some leaders will try to provoke them to do so.

There are thousands of non-Chinese parents who send their children to vernacular schools. I see them, together with private schools, an essential part of our education system.

The government needs to honour the agreement made in 1957, and that of 1963 and 2018, not only for its credibility, but also because the country will not be able to move forward if we always look for excuses to reinterpret the Constitution and to revisit the practices of the earlier administration. 

Of course, if we do not want to honour these agreements, we can find excuses to do so. But at what cost to the country?

The non-Malay communities have contributed significantly to the development of Malaya, and then Malaysia. If it were not for them, Malaysia would not be so developed. 

The Muslims here would not be able to impress their poorer Muslim brothers from other countries during the recent KL Summit were it not for the contribution of the non-Malays in the last 150 years. 

Its time we give due respect to the non-Malay communities, and we can do this by ceding to them the right to manage and administer vernacular schools as they see fit.

The government must show leadership in this difficult time by being fair to all. What is good for the goose must be good for the gander. They need to temper the demand touted by the Malay congress. 

In the first 30 years of our independence, the economy was our priority. Then we were distracted. A list of "sensitive policies" was adopted that were unnecessary and divisive. 

Today, I expect the government of Pakatan Harapan to be more pragmatic, to continue with much-needed development. For that to happen, they must be willing to reject failed political ideas that distracted us, that have hampered our unity and common purpose for so long.

Economic development and greater equality will bring peace and harmony. However, we do not achieve prosperity and harmony by government policies that compel and force a large section of the people to accept what they do not want. Unity is achieved by consent, never by compulsion.

For the country to progress, we need the support of the non-Malay communities. There is no need to alienate them with policies that bring no tangible benefits to the country. 

To move forward and bring economic prosperity, we need everyone to work together. We need more jobs, more investments, more entrepreneurs and a more skilled workforce. 

Any further distraction on issues like vernacular schools, race, religion and language will hinder much-needed progress; and, like in other countries, its always the economically weaker group who suffer the most from such an event.

I hope common sense and goodwill will prevail in our country, especially among our leaders, so that we can resolve all outstanding issues quickly. 

We need to move on.

ZAID IBRAHIM is a former minister.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.