The Malaysian Insight

ANOTHER CONGRESS to discuss lessons on Jawi in vernacular schools will proceed as planned on Sunday, its organisers said.

Selangor Jawi Teaching Special Committee (JTSC) coordinator Eddie Heng Hong Chai said their objective was to defend the decision-making powers of Chinese school boards.

The committee is a member of the Seni Khat Action Team (Sekat) which comprises several like-minded groups championing vernacular education.

“We are not objecting to the teaching of Jawi in vernacular schools or wanting to cause disunity. We are merely reiterating the importance of the school boards’ authority in deciding school policies,” he told The Malaysian Insight tonight.

Heng said they opposed the ministry’s decision to include Jawi in the Bahasa Melayu syllabus and wanted a review on the matter

However, he conceded that their congress was seen by some as anti-Jawi .

“We are prepared to be stopped, like what happened to Dong Jiao Zong today,” he said.

Heng said they wanted to engage the Education Ministry, and had invited minister Dr Maszlee Malik to attend, but he had not replied to the invitation.

The congress will be held at the Crystal Crown Hotel in Petaling Jaya on Sunday morning.

Heng said police had been informed of the congress and had issued a permit for the gathering.

Earlier today, police obtained a court order to stop p Dong Jiao Zong from holding its controversial congress tomorrow on lessons about Jawi in vernacular schools. 

Dong Jiao Zong secretary-general Ng Chai Heng confirmed that the group had received the order prohibiting the gathering in Kajang.

“We have just received the court order. We are currently discussing what to do,” he told The Malaysian Insight, adding that for now, the event is off.

“We respect the court order, our meeting tomorrow will be cancelled.” 

A court granted the order on the basis that police intelligence indicated a riot will break out if the congress proceeds.

In a separate statement, Kajang district police said said everyone associated with the event should stay away and any counter-gathering by any group or organisation is also barred. – December 27, 2019.