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They couldn’t get rid of vernacular schools.
Now, they will infiltrate them.
Introduce khat. Make it compulsory. That will mean that, increasingly, Malay teachers of khat will be sent to vernacular schools.
Think of the consequences…
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Khat
Islamic calligraphy is the artistic practice of handwriting and calligraphy, based upon the alphabet in the lands sharing a common Islamic cultural heritage. It includes Arabic Calligraphy, Ottoman, and Persian calligraphy. It is known in Arabic as khatt Islami, meaning Islamic line, design, or construction. Wikipedia
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PETALING JAYA: Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh today dismissed a report that DAP members at a special meeting on Monday had been told to toe the line regarding the stir over the introduction of khat calligraphy for Year 4 students in vernacular schools, saying nothing could be further from the truth.
In a statement, he said he had been present at the meeting and that members were given the freedom to express their views on the khat issue without any restrictions and to suggest possible solutions to the matter.
“None of us were told to watch our words or that we were not entitled to be concerned about the issue,” he added.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a DAP leader had told FMT that the party’s secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had expressed unhappiness with a group of lawmakers who had “whacked” the policy.
The leader said Lim had reminded the members that they must behave like the government, and that other groups should be taken into consideration as well, not just the Chinese.
According to the leader, Lim said some party leaders had, in recent days, acted in a way “that made it seem like that they were against Jawi itself, which shouldn’t have been the case”.
But Ramkarpal said none of this was true although the leadership had ultimately agreed that an official statement on the matter would be issued.
“[T]he entire purpose of the meeting that day was to hear the views of party members first.
“It is unfortunate that certain leaders choose to falsely tarnish the image of the party and hide behind the cloak of anonymity,” he added.
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Jelutong MP RSN Rayer also denied that party leaders at the meeting had instructed members to toe the line.
In a statement, he said it had been “a very productive and healthy discussion where all elected representatives were invited and given ample opportunity and time to express their views, which they did in a very constructive way”.
“I wish to state that the purpose of the meeting was to hear the views of the elected representatives in a true democratic fashion which DAP always practises.
“It is regrettable that certain leaders have chosen to sabotage the party by making false and baseless allegations deliberately with the intention of tarnishing the reputation of the party to further add to the controversy.”
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PUTRAJAYA: In a change of stance, Chinese educationist groups Dong Zong and Jiao Dong today welcomed the government’s move to introduce a chapter on the Malay-Arabic calligraphy of khat in the Year 4 Bahasa Melayu syllabus in vernacular schools next year.
Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching said the consensual decision was reached after a meeting with Dong Zong and Jiao Dong and 10 other Chinese and Indian-interest groups.
“This is the stand of the NGOs. We at the education ministry agree (with their stand),” Teo told a press conference at her ministry after the meeting this afternoon.
She said the groups also welcomed the proposal that students will not be tested on khat.
Teo said, however, the groups did not agree with the teaching of Jawi in vernacular schools.
Teo thanked the groups for “caring” about the issue. She said her ministry was committed to improving the Standard Curriculum and Assessment Document, adding that it would work with the NGOs on this.
The other groups present included the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Hua Zong), the Tamil Foundation, the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia, and Merdeka University Bhd.
The Federation of Alumni Associations of Taiwan Universities, the Federation of Chinese School Alumni Associations of Malaysia, the LLG Cultural Development Centre, the Majlis Bahasa Cina Malaysia, Titian Digital Malaysia, and the Association of Graduates from Universities and Colleges of China, Malaysia were also present.
At a meeting yesterday, the groups had signed a statement calling for the deferment of the decision to introduce khat in the Year 4 Bahasa Melayu syllabus in vernacular schools next year.
They had said it did not help Chinese and Tamil primary school students to increase their standard of Malay and that changes to the existing school syllabus should only be done by meeting the needs of each school stream.
Dong Zong secretary-general Ng Chai Heng today said they handed to Teo the joint statement from yesterday and that they discussed with her the points raised in the statement.
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A Bersatu Youth exco member led a group of 20 people to submit a memorandum to the United Chinese School Committees Association (Dong Zong) over the khat (Jawi calligraphy) issue.
Ashraf Mustaqim Badrul Murni, in his capacity as Angkatan Gerak Minda Malaysia (Agra) president, claimed that the memorandum was supported by 90 NGOs nationwide.
The group was greeted outside Dong Zong’s office in Kajang by the association’s central committee member Low Chee Chong and two others, who accepted the memorandum.
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Meanwhile, Ashraf told reporters later that the original plan for today was a demonstration against Dong Zong, after it was reported that the Chinese education group was also going to hold a rally against khat.
Dong Zong had denied planning such a protest, after which Ashraf changed his plans to approach Dong Zong peacefully by submitting a memorandum.
“But we want to stress, if anyone else doesn’t respect (this issue) we will step up the pressure, and we will mobilise more people. We hope this issue is no longer questioned,” he said.
He also voiced appreciation to several leaders who have defended khat, including DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/486916
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Lim Kit Siang:
2. Q. When were plans to introduce khat as part of a revision of the curriculum decided?
A. In 2016 under the Barisan Nasional government.
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Lim Kit Siang writes about the introduction of Khat in vernacular schools.
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The Education Ministry will proceed with the introduction of a khat calligraphy segment for the Standard 4 Bahasa Melayu syllabus next year as planned.
In a statement today, the ministry said khat was an integral part of Malaysia’s national identity and Bahasa Melayu which was the national language and the language of unity.
“Apart from this, this form of writing appears on the coat of arms for Malaysia and her respective states. It also appears on Malaysian banknotes.
“The ministry is committed to building a Malaysia which is well-versed in the nation’s traditions,” said the ministry.
The introduction of khat said the ministry was decided in 2014 and many language and education experts were consulted.
Khat lessons will take up six out of 164 pages of the new Bahasa Melayu Standard 4 textbook next year.
However, the move has proven divisive.
Chinese and Tamil education groups have voiced disapproval on grounds that it would create additional workload for vernacular school students.
A group of 138 DAP branch and division leaders, along with 11 state assemblypersons, have protested against the move on grounds that it would institutionalise and politicise the Jawi script.
Citing the mandatory use of Jawi script on signboards in Kelantan and Terengganu, the group said similar measures were being institutionalised in Pahang and Malacca.
“This is manifesting in many ways […] once Chinese and Tamil schools add khat to the curriculum, it will be a case of ‘the boiling frog’.
“Those with an agenda might seize the opportunity to introduce Jawi at all levels […] Should Jawi be institutionalised, it will tear apart Malaysia’s social fabric,” said the group.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/486455
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Large DAP group objects to ‘khat’ in vernacular school syllabus
A group of 138 DAP grassroots office bearers, including 13 state assemblypersons, have urged DAP cabinet members to object to plans to introduce “khat” or calligraphy art in the Year 4 Bahasa Malaysia curriculum for vernacular schools.
In a joint statement, the group said vernacular school students are already learning “three languages and three writing systems”. Adding “khat” into the mix would make it “three languages and four writing systems”, said the group.
The Education Ministry in a statement last Thursday explained that the introduction of khat was to foster beautiful writing.
The ministry stressed that subject matter did not pertain to Jawi scripts and students were not assessed on it in examinations.
“We do not disagree that ‘khat’ has artistic value, but people should be encouraged to appreciate it on their own and not made into policy,” said the group.
The group claimed that the introduction of “khat” as an attempt to institutionalise and politicise the Jawi script.
Citing the mandatory use of Jawi script on signboards in Kelantan and Terengganu, the group said similar measures are being institutionalised in Pahang and Malacca.
“This is manifesting in many ways… once Chinese and Tamil schools add ‘khat’ into the curriculum, it would be a case of ‘the boiling frog’.
“Those with an agenda might seize the opportunity to introduce Jawi at all levels… Should Jawi be institutionalised, it will tear apart Malaysia’s social fabric,” said the group.
The group said DAP cabinet member must protect Malaysia’s multi-ethnic nature and not feel compelled to follow BN’s “one race, one language and one culture” narrative.
“DAP’s core is to seek a just society, where multi-culturalism is celebrated… Our values must manifest itself in policy and not just repeat MCA’s mistakes,” said the group.
“Khat” will be introduced next year. According to Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching, this policy was decided in 2016 by the previous administration.
Of the 162 pages for the Bahasa Malaysia textbook, six pages will be dedicated to “khat”.
The 13 state assemblypersons who signed the joint-statement are Chow Yu Hui (Tras), Chiong Yoke Kong (Tanah Rata), Chong Zhe Min (Keranji), Lee Chin Chen (Bilut), Tan Hong Pin (Skudai), Ee Chin Li (Tangkak), Cheo Yee How (Perling), Yeo Tung Siong (Pekan Nenas), Ng Yak Howe (Bentayan), Chew Peck Choo (Yong Peng), Cheah Pou Hian (Jelapang), Violet Yong (Pending) and Leong Yu Man (Triang).
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/486133
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Education ministry defends khat, will introduce it next year in Year 4
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