KUALA LUMPUR, 3 Dec 2008: Jerlun Member of Parliament Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said he would not withdraw his statement on his suggestion for the government to create a single school system in the country.
Defending his suggestion, Mukhriz said yesterday that he did not think that what he said was wrong as it was only a suggestion to strengthen racial unity in the country.
“I don’t understand this withdrawal thing. When you’ve already said it, how can you withdraw it? I don’t see that what I said was wrong as I touched on unity.
“Everyday, I hear people talk in the Dewan Rakyat about unity. It has only been just talk, mere rhetoric but not wanting to do anything about it.
“We should not be politicising important issues like unity, but there seems to be no solution that can bring about real unity among the people,” he said.
Mukhriz was asked to comment on the objection from various quarters to his suggestion and they also urged him to withdraw his statement regarding it.
Mukhriz had suggested that all schools come under a single national education system with Bahasa Malaysia as the medium of instruction except for Science and Mathematics which should be in English, while pupils would also learn their mother tongue or opt for another language so that they could master at least three languages.
He believed the single school system could help realise the nation’s aspiration of creating a more united multiracial society and preventing racial polarisation which had become worse of late.
He rejected claims that he had made the suggestion to fish for votes in his bid for the Umno Youth chief’s post in March 2009.
“I’m just giving a suggestion…I don’t have the power to make it a reality.
It’s up to the government whether to consider the suggestion,” he said. — Bernama
See also:
Najib: Vernacular schools to stay
Political parties unite against Mukhriz
Mukhriz proposes single education system
