Kota Kinabalu:
Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Deputy President Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai called on the Chinese community to take a firm stand to unanimously oppose the irrational proposal by Senator Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, to abolish vernacular schools in the country. “Anyone who proposed to abolish vernacular schools is seditious and should be condemned. The authorities concerned should take the appropriate action.” He said the such remarks of the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia Youth Chief should be condemned as it violates the fundamental rights to use their our own mother tongues in education as enshrined under the Malaysian constitution.
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Dr Yee expressed his dismay that there are still short-sighted people who try to destabilise the unity and harmony of the country. “Malaysia is a very blessed country. Since gaining independence, the respective rights of our multiracial population are protected under the constitution, which includes the freedom to use our mother tongue in education. As a result, many Malaysians are multilingual, an attribute that is highly valued and recognised in a competitive global market.”
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“There are many vernacular schools in Malaysia. Their existence has encouraged many Malaysians to appreciate and respect our respective cultural heritage,” added Dr Yee. The former deputy chief minister said the unity and progress of the country should not be compromised by a handful of irrational people.
