KOTA BELUD: The proposal by certain parties to shut down all vernacular schools in Malaysia is uncalled for and excessive, said State Legislative Assembly Speaker, Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Salleh Tun Said.
Salleh (right) presenting a cheque to Tadika Lok Yuk which he adopted.
He said this is because vernacular schools are part and parcel of the national education system.
“This means any proposal to abolish vernacular schools is extreme and outrageous,” he said.
Salleh, who is also the Usukan assemblyman, said this during the opening celebration of 20 Years of Lok Yuk Kindergarten Jinshan and the opening the RM150,000 games hall building, financed by the Federal Government, here, yesterday.
The issue on the existence of vernacular schools became a subject of debate since several years ago and became heated up again recently.
Salleh, who is Sabah Umno deputy liaison chief, stressed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had previously assured that such schools would continue to be part of the educational system in the country.
He said vernacular schools played an important role in providing educational opportunities to all groups in society, especially in Sabah, which is made up of multi-ethnic and multi-religious people.
“Bear in mind that many Bumiputera students or pupils are studying in vernacular schools (in Sabah) and that has played an important role to foster racial unity,” he said, adding that Sabah’s traditional practice can not be equated to the situation in the Peninsula.