Don't Drag Vernacular Schools into Politics

The article strongly criticizes a call by a Chinese vernacular education group for political parties to publicly commit to protecting vernacular schools, labeling the demand as "excessive" and "disgusting" for politicizing the issue. The author argues that such demands, particularly during election periods, are a form of incitement that touches upon sensitive 3R issues (race, religion, and royalty).

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The call by a certain Chinese vernacular education organization for political parties and candidates contesting in the election to give a clear commitment to protecting vernacular schools is not only excessive but also disgusting because it politicizes it.

According to the author, vernacular schools, while constitutionally guaranteed, should not be elevated to a level that overshadows the national school system. The article posits that national schools represent the primary social, cultural, and political norm in Malaysia, aligning with the dominant national identity rooted in Malay-Islam. Vernacular schools are presented as secondary and should maintain a proportionate presence without exceeding the prominence of the national stream.

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This is the consequence of that organization engaging in politicking.

The piece further contends that the push to make vernacular schools a central election issue is driven by the specific interests of the advocating organization, aiming to secure political support by promising to protect vernacular education. This approach, the author suggests, is a misrepresentation of the nation's foundational structure, which is based on Malay-Islam identity rather than a diverse heritage.

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Vernacular schools are not the main system.

While acknowledging that many non-Malay parents avoid national primary schools due to perceived issues with quality and discipline, the article maintains that the national school system is the mainstream social, cultural, and political standard. The author concludes that the vernacular education group's actions are a deliberate attempt to politicize an issue for their own agenda, urging caution against such divisive tactics.

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Therefore, their existence should be moderate, meaning they should never surpass national schools as the mainstream stream in any aspect.