Sin Chew Daily

Vernacular schools once again come under fire. PPBM Youth chairman Wan Ahmad Fayshal says the organization's position is that vernacular schools have to be phased out gradually.

Our politicians have over the past so many years played up the issue of multi-stream education in the country in fishing cheap political capital. It is utterly disappointing that even until this day youth leaders remain zealous in exploiting this issue.

There is nothing new in Wan Ahmad Fayshal's stand. He is only repeating what many other outdated politicians have been harping on for years, arguing that vernacular schools do not augur well for national unity and are unable to groom students with strong national identity.

Multi-stream education has been practiced in this country for so long and the federal constitution is protecting the rights of Malaysians from different ethnic backgrounds to learn their mother tongues.

Unfortunately our shortsighted politicians have kept bringing up the issue of Chinese and Tamil primary schools to advance their own political gains, intensifying intercommunity conflicts in so doing.

Like other exploitative politicians before him, Wan Ahmad Fayshal has not the slightest intention to learn more about the country's multi-stream education system or explore ways to further promote national unity and enhancing Malaysians' national identity, but has instead targeted specifically at Chinese and Tamil primary schools.

Ethnic harmony is of paramount importance in a multicultural society like ours, and is the cornerstone of social stability and the nation's prosperity. Having said that, intercommunity relations and national unity are not as straightforward as they look, and pointing the finger crudely at vernacular schools is downright make believe excuse.

As a matter of fact, these narrow-minded politicians are the biggest culprits of the country's racial problems. In order to win the support of a specific ethnic community, they have gone all out to stir up racial emotions and create divisions in a way their followers see people from other ethnic communities as imaginary foes.

Because of these people, our interracial relations cannot be taken to a higher level. They are thick-skinned enough to claim that multi-stream education is the stumbling block to national solidarity.

The allegation that multi-stream education has failed to mold stronger national identity is equally unsubstantiated. Students graduating from Chinese and Tamil primary schools are just as patriotic. They were born and raised here, and have contributed positively towards the country's development through hard work. Such effort must never be negated by the irresponsible remarks of rogue politicians.

If our politicians are really serious about promoting intercommunity solidarity, they should have refrained from fanning racial emotions and issuing fiery racist remarks. If they really have a strong national identity and love this country so much, they should play their positive roles earnestly to push for our society's healthy development.

For the past 60 over years since the country's independence, we have repeatedly heard voices calling for the abolition of vernacular schools, especially at this very moment when monoracial political parties are gaining much traction in the country, shouting provocative slogans every now and then as they keep erecting walls that separate our communities.

As other countries around the world are pursuing the artificial intelligence aspirations, it is downright frustrating that our deputy minister cum youth leader has opted to manipulate the antiquated trick to cook up a sensitive racial issue.

Leaders of youth organizations must have a macroscopic foresight and noble aspirations instead of treading down the old stale path of outdated politicians.