PETALING JAYA: MCA has criticised United Chinese School Committees' Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) chairman Yap Sin Tian for not supporting the extra 30 minutes per week lessons for Bahasa Malaysia for Chinese schools.
MCA Youth Education Bureau chairman Chong Sin Woon said the increase of 30 minutes to 210 minutes of BM lessons will "by no means reduce the number of Mandarin lessons, much less cause the elimination of Chinese schools."
"Such warnings only unnecessarily mislead the public," Chong said in a statement.
He said the United Chinese School Teachers Association (Jiao Zong), the Headmaster Union and 16 other Chinese associations had also agreed to the 210 minutes of BM lessons for Chinese primary schools.
"I urge Mr Yap Sin Tian not to divide Chinese education groups owing to differences over the increase of Bahasa Malaysia lessons for Chinese primary schools," he added.
Chong noted that Yap had recognised the importance of BM and fully supported upgrading the level of BM among Chinese primary school pupils "but on the other hand, he opposes increasing the hours for BM classes."
The proposal for 210 minutes per week for teaching of Bahasa Malaysia was based on the Education Ministry’s announcement for Year 4 to Year 6, under the KSSR based on the actual situation for each subject for the defence of Mandarin classes.
Chong said: "Mandarin remains the medium of language in Chinese primary schools including for all subjects, thus will not affect the vernacular school. It is only the BM class which will be lengthened by 30 minutes. Hence, Dong Zong’s claim that Chinese schools will be eliminated is ridiculous and unrealistic."
Chong said urged Dong Zong to also listen to opinions of professional bodies rather than imply that any group which agrees to the proposal has a tacit agreement with MCA on the matter or desires to see the elimination of Chinese schools.
"While major Chinese associations believe that 210 minutes is feasible, why not Dong Zong?
"Why disparage others who hold a different view or imply that Chinese education will deteriorate or is a betrayal against teaching Mandarin?
"We should put aside our differences and make efforts to come together on the teaching of Mandarin," he said.
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