MCA: Vernacular schools not a hindrance to national unity

PETALING JAYA: Vernacular schools are not stumbling blocks to national unity, said MCA Youth Education Bureau National chairman Lim Ching Hao.
Lim was responding to comments by Umno Youth Exco member Shahril Hamdan who called for the government to reduce financial aid or government recognition for vernacular education and that he would oppose efforts to recognise the United Examination Certificate (UEC).
He said at the recently concluded 63rd MCA Annual General Assembly, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak had responded positively to MCA's request for more Chinese primary schools.
Lim added that the Prime Minister had pledged to work closely with MCA to build more vernacular schools for the community.
He said the Education Ministry had disclosed that the number of non-Chinese pupils attending SJKC rose steadily by 20.7% over the previous five years (2010-2014).
"In certain Chinese primary schools, enrollment of non-Chinese have overtaken the number of Chinese pupils, for example SJKC Aik Keow in Penaga and SKJC Kou Hua in Kuala Nerang (Penang); SJKC Wai Sin in Parit Buntar and SJKC Chong Wah, Semanggol (Perak)," he said in a statement today.
Lim said taking into account these statistics, halting allocations to vernacular schools will affect the educational development of multiracial Malaysians.
"The growth of non-Chinese students in vernacular schools is a recognition by the masses that Chinese vernacular schools are doing well and it is the pride of not just the Chinese community but the whole nation," Lim said.