SEKTOR DOKUMENTASI PENDIDIKAN
BPPDP, Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia
Aras SB-4, Blok EB, Kompleks E ,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan
62604 Putrajaya.
Tel : 03-8884 6425
Faks: 03-8884 6284
TARIKH : 21 FEBRUARI 2024 (RABU)
SERITA HARIAN CJ UTUSAN M'SIA CJ N. STRAITS TIME
~ .
A timely
win for
ver.nacular
schools
in Malaysia
By Z AKIAH KOYA
and ALLISON LAI
newsdesk@th·~
e r.com.my
"TS :ii I .1 :J.Y DQ. 5"
PETALINd J A: The 'tederal
Court'~ decision to uphold the
constitutionality of vernacular
schools has come at just the right
time - it is International-Mother
Language Day today.
MCA publicity bureau chair-
man Chan Quin Er said Malaysians
can be assured that their chil-
dren's right to mother tongue
education is protected.
''The Federal Court's decision
has concluded an important legal
case regarding vernacular schools
in Malaysia.
''This is a win for freedom of
choice in education," she said.
Chan, a lawyer, said the case
began in 2019 and had gone
through . two High Courts and
three Courts of Appeal.
This definitive ruling (by the
apex court) clarifies the legal sta-
tus of vernacular schools, she
added. .
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr
Wee Ka Siong also said the Federal
Court's ruling meant the schools
have achieved their "final victory"
and the entire case has now ended.
''The issue of challenging the
existence and constitutional right
of vernacular schools to use
Chinese and Tamil as the medium
of instruction has officially con-
cluded, with vernacular schools
securing the final victory;" he said.
/
CJ THE STAR.,.0 SINAR HARIAN CJ
Dr Wee said that from the
beginning of the case until its con-
clusion, MCA has appointed rep-
resentative lawyers to intervene
and act as a party actively defend-
ing the status of _vernacular
schools and the right to use ver-
nacular languages as the medium
of instruction.
A legal team led by Datuk Ben
Chan represented MCA in court
for this case.
Dr Wee said MCA would contin-
ue to do its utmost to defend the
existence of a multi-stream edu-
cation system and strive to pro-
mote the robust development of
Chinese education.
"We will never let down the
pioneers, who laid the foundation
of our nation," Dr Wee said.
Arun Dorasamy, the chief
researcher of the Malaysia Centre
of Vernacular School Excellence
said the court's decision was "~
·sign -of good things to come"
amid the International Mother
Language Day today.
"We, the Tamil schools, won in
the courts yesterday but there is
more to be done in the schools.
''The success in the courts will
not mean much if we don't send
our children to Tamil vernacular
schools and ensure they achieve
acad~mic and curricular success,''
he said. •
The lawyer noted that the cur-
rent 529 Tamil schools, with
84,779 students and 8,997 teach-
ers nationwide, must be saved.
"Tomorrow is International
Mother Language Day and this
decision could norhave come at a
better time,'' said Arun.
/.