The Malaysian Insight

THE confusion surrounding a Saturday congress on Jawi is caused by Chinese education group Dong Jiao Zong’s failure to communicate its objective, said analysts.

The group has failed to indicate what it is unhappy about with the teaching of the Jawi script in vernacular primary schools.

Political analyst and veteran newsman Cheah See Kian said the congress agenda is unclear so it is not easy to gauge what the responses will be.

He said the congress should just focus on who has the right to decide if the Jawi script should be taught in those schools.

He has urged Dong Jiao Zong to clearly state its demand.

He added the group should make clear its stance that it is against the introduction of Jawi in the Standard 4 Bahasa Malaysia syllabus and not the script itself.

“Parents are worried it will burden their children.”

He said DAP is caught in the middle as it is unsure how to resolve the matter.

Meanwhile, assistant professor at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman Chin Chong Foh said the congress’ lack of clarity has caused misunderstanding among the Malay community.

“What exactly is the congress protesting about? We do not have clear information.

“Is it about the three pages on Jawi in school textbooks or allowing the board of directors in those schools the right to decide if Jawi should be introduced?”

While it is too late to cancel the congress, he said the group should tone down its rhetoric and communicate its stance in different languages so it is understood by other races.

He added the confusion has caused Malays to misinterpret it as a racial issue, hence the calls by some to ban Dong Jiao Zong.

He said if the Home Ministry acts against the group and revokes its registration, hopes to have the United Examination Certificate recognised will also be dashed.

The onus lies on Dong Jiao Zong to clear any misunderstanding, he said.

Chin felt the congress should only be held after the Malays have understood its purpose.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had warned Dong Jiao Zong that its insistence on holding the gathering could lead to other repercussions, such as Malay pressure groups reasserting their calls for vernacular schools to be shut down.

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim also called on Dong Jiao Zong and other factions, including Malay organisations, not to hold any event on the issue.

Despite that, Dong Jiao Zong is going ahead with its congress at the New Era College in Kajang this Saturday. – December 26, 2019.