It’s not the issue of language but it is an issue of national unity and integration. A true cohesive identity for a single Malaysian race is hard to define. We are still recognized as “Melayu, India, Cina, dan lain-lain” (Malay, Indian, Chinese, and others). We are still referring to ourselves as a race, by our skin color and by the language we use. Why can’t we just refer and call ourselves “Bangsa Malaysia”?

Malaysias’ Children Deserves A Color Blind Education System

Iqbal Abd Ghaffar

Whether it be for political mileage or in the name of national unity, the contender for the top UMNO Youth Post, Mukhriz Mahathir put forth a contentious issue into the limelight.

The mother tongue, vernacular education system adopted and practiced in Malaysia since independence has in my opinion put national unity and the realization of Bangsa Malaysia as distant as the far edges of the Universe. (I’ve once read somewhere that Malaysia is the only country that allows an education system in each of the 3 major race’s mother tongue).

True unity would really be hard to achieve if from the very early years of a child’s development, they have been separated, segregated, and clustered according to their skin color. They are to only mix and mingle with their own kind, in the name of preserving their culture, thinking and practices.

In the name of creating a true blue Bangsa Malaysia and in the name of National Unity and integration, i strongly believe that the mother tongue primary school education system to be of utmost rubbish! It is one of the most stupidest policies to be implemented. It has only gave birth to two generations of Malaysians who can hardly speak Bahasa Malaysia fluently.

It’s not the issue of language but it is an issue of national unity and integration. A true cohesive identity for a single Malaysian race is hard to define. We are still recognized as “Melayu, India, Cina, dan lain-lain” (Malay, Indian, Chinese, and others). We are still referring to ourselves as a race, by our skin color and by the language we use. Why can’t we just refer and call ourselves “Bangsa Malaysia”?

This is the failure of NOT having a single education system. This is the failure of our politicians to allow such a system to go on for so long that it breeds racism, chauvinism, and a feeling of threat and suspicion against one another.

Why should national unity and integration take a back seat to pure racial pride? What benefit does it bring us?

I, for one, am a rojak of all sorts. I went to a kindergarten that taught maths in Mandarin, playtime in English, and reading in Bahasa Malaysia. I then continued four years in an American School surrounded by students from all over the world. Then I continued the remaining years of my primary education in a British school where my classmates were 90% Chinese and most of them couldn’t utter a sentence of Mandarin.

The shock came to me when I had to enter government school for my secondary education. Not only could I not converse Bahasa Malaysia well, I found that the students were only hanging among their own skin colors!

I had a problem with that.

First of all, I grew up being color blind, and I expect to go on that way. The only friends I made were those who could speak English well (and they were a rarity).

The point I’m trying to make is that school IS and SHOULD BE the place where children are to integrate. A child understands not of color. It is the adults who instill such prejudice.

And in that same process of growing up, I have not lost my identity. I have not lost my customs and culture (though I may not know all, but is that important?). I still celebrate Hari Raya, I eat with my hand and occasionally use cutlery and chop sticks. I am still able to converse, write, and think in my own mother tongue. I know who I am!

I have many Chinese and Indian friends who have not forgotten their customs and practices, despite them having the opportunity to continue with international education all the way to secondary and tertiary levels. They still eat with chopsticks and hands. They still celebrate Chinese new year and Diwali. They can still converse in Mandarin and Tamil respectively, but they haven’t lost their identities…so what’s the BIG PROBLEM with a single education system for god’s sake!?

I am blessed to have parents that never taught me or my siblings about being biased to any race or recognize people by its colors. However, the Malaysian education system continues our former colonialists “Divide and Rule” policy.

It is high time that a National referendum be held. The referendum should seek the Malaysian public and NOT the politicians to decide on the future of our education system. Don’t allow narrow-minded-extremely-chauvinistic-selfish education groups, political groups, and NGO’s and to decide and persuade what’s in the best interest of an individual race.

This is not about Ketuanan Melayu, Ketuanan Cina, Ketuanan India, Ketuanan Iban, Ketuanan Dayak and etc.

THIS IS ABOUT the future of KETUANAN BANGSA MALAYSIA!

IAG

The author strongly supports the stand of Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, Prof Khoo Kay Kim and Datuk M.Kayveas to do away with the vernacular school system in support of a unified education system for Malaysia’s children.

The author also believes that the Dong Zong and the Jiao Zong are a bane to National Unity and Integration.