By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, August 12: Sarawak Federation of Chinese Associations president Dato Richard Wee has expressed his disappointment over remarks made by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for calling Dong Zong as racists.
“I am disappointed and saddened by the remarks made our PM of whom we had hoped would be the one who would be able to diffuse the impasse on the Jawi issue. It now shows who is truly the person pushing for such policy.
“Dong Zong being the body that oversees and organises the examination of Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) is expected to maintain their stand and position on this issue.
“But Dong Zong is not the only body that objected to the issue, so why then the PM had to single out Dong Zong and not mentioned all the rest of the organisations that share the same view?” Wee said in a press statement here today.
According to him, Malaysia as a multi-cultural and multi-religious country must allow freedom and rights to mother tongue education to be exercised as clearly enshrined in Federal Constitution.
“In defending our Federal Constitution, we are showing our patriotism and loyalty to our Country.
“I hope the new federal government would resolve this matter of which I maintain as trivial compared to so many other important issues such as the National Education Blueprint, the elevating of the English standard in our Government schools, the recognition of UEC and of course the general economy of our country, instead of targeting any community or branding, labelling and calling them demeaning names,” said Wee who is also the Sarawak United Associations of Chinese Independent Secondary School Management Board Vice President.
Dr Mahathir made the remark amid Dong Zong’s petition against the introduction of khat in the Primary School Year Four syllabus starting next year. — DayakDaily
