KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has called for a Chinese vernacular school to be renamed SJKC Tun Omar Ong Yoke Lin.
The Barisan Nasional chairman agreed with the proposal by MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong to restore and maintain the late MCA founding member's name for the school.
“I request that the name SJKC Tun Omar Ong Yoke Lin be restored. I agree with MCA president. This is not about race.
“Insyallah, I will raise the matter,” the Umno president said during the Barisan 50th anniversary celebration at World Trade Centre here on Saturday (Dec 7).
Earlier, Dr Wee proposed that Barisan must defend to restore Omar’s name at the school in Selangor.
“Recently, the Education Minister launched the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of SJKC Gamuda Cove.
“I noticed that the name of Tun Omar Ong Yoke Lin had been removed from the original name of the school, which had been approved by former education minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid on Oct 26, 2017, during Barisan’s administration.
“Does Tun Omar Ong Yoke Lin not deserve national recognition? This decision was communicated to Tun Omar Ong Yoke Lin's widow, Toh Puan Dr Aishah Ong, seven years ago.
“The media also reported the Education Ministry’s decision in 2017," he said.
Dr Wee said Omar played a role in fighting for the country’s independence, and was a member of the country’s first Cabinet under Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj.
“Tun Omar Ong Yoke Lin embraced Islam in 1961 and served as the president of the Dewan Negara from 1973 to 1980, during the early years of BN’s formation in 1974,” he added.
