The DAP national leadership had a frank and open discussion with all our elected representatives on Monday 5 August 2019 on the Education Ministry’s decision to introduce seni khat or Jawi to the Standard 4 Bahasa Malaysia textbook for Chinese and Tamil primary schools, without prior consultation with the stakeholders. This was conveyed to the Cabinet meeting yesterday.
The unhappiness of the non-Malay community and educationists in Chinese and Tamil primary schools, stemmed from what is seen by them as an unilateral decision taken by the Education Ministry, without any prior consultation with the stakeholders. Sabah and Sarawak have also expressed similar dissatisfaction. This has led to general suspicion and a trust deficit from the stakeholders in Chinese and Tamil primary schools, that there is a hidden agenda by the Education Ministry.
The Education Minister has denied this and said that this new syllabus introducing seni khat or Jawi for Standard 4, was formulated and decided by the previous government. The Education Minister had announced the decision of Cabinet, that the introduction of the Jawi or seni khat illustrations in the Standard 4 Bahasa Malaysia textbooks would not be tested in exams and be made optional.
This decision by Cabinet yesterday that the introduction of seni khat or Jawi illustrations will be made optional, will not please everyone including those from the non-Malay community, who request that the implementation of introducing seni khat or Jawi illustrations be deferred pending consultation with all the stakeholders in Chinese and Tamil primary schools. However, Cabinet decision yesterday that it is not compulsory but optional and not to be tested in exams, would hopefully allow Malaysians to move forward.
Malaysians from all walks of life, should engage more with each other to understand the concerns that divide us and aspirations that unite us. Let us work together with full respect for diversity and appreciation for each other’s differences that makes us stronger and more successful.
LIM GUAN ENG
DAP SECRETARY GENERAL
8 August 2019
针对教育部在没有事先咨询相关团体之下就决定在华小及淡小4年级国文课本推出介绍爪夷书法的单元，民主行动党全国领袖与全国民选代表之间已于2019年8月5日就此事展开了公开坦率的讨论。我也在昨日向内阁反映了讨论结果。
非马来社会、华教及淡文教育人士的不满，乃因为他们认为教育部是在没有事先咨询各相关代表组织之下单方面作决策。连沙巴与砂拉越两州亦针对此事表达了同样的不满。这已经广泛地引起了华淡小代表组织的疑窦及酿成了信任赤字，并认为教育部背后拥有隐议程。
教育部长否认了这一点，并表示在四年级引入爪夷文书法的新教学大纲是由前任政府制订和决定的。教育部长刚已宣布了内阁的决定，即小四国语课本中的爪夷文书法简介不考试，同时仅列为选修。
内阁昨日做出决定，将介绍爪夷文书法的单元列为选修课，当然，这肯定无法满足所有人，包括来自非马来社会的人士，他们要求搁置介绍爪夷文书法的单元，直至与所有华小和淡小的代表组织完成协商为止。无论如何，内阁昨天已议决，它并不是强制性的，属于选修，而且不考试。希望这有助于让大家继续往前迈进。
来自各行各业的马来西亚人应该互相交流，以了解是什么分裂了我们，以及什么团结了我们。让我们共同努力，一起尊重多样性，欣赏彼此的差异，使我们变得更强大，更成功。
林冠英
民主行动党秘书长
2019年8月8日