24 June 2019

Contempt against the Federal Constitution! PAS Muslimat Salamiah’s seditious remark on vernacular schools should be probed

The police should probe PAS Muslimat vice-chief Salamiah Mohd Nor under the Sedition Act over her controversial remarks during the PAS muktamar urging the government to end vernacular schools. Such views are extremist and contemptuous against the Federal Constitution which protects the rights and interests of every Malaysian to mother tongue education. If such views are to be expanded, it would surely instigate racial conflicts, society fallout, and jeopardise national unity.

Not only do Salamiah’s remarks contravene the Federal Constitution, they are also inflammatory with seditious elements, primed to set off a racial outburst. Thus, there is an urgent need for the police force to investigate this matter and take swift actions.

Furthermore, such extreme viewpoints are tantamount to challenging the Federal Constitution’s sovereignty in protecting the rights of each ethnicity to mother tongue education, as well as dismissing the Chinese and Indian communities’ basic rights as citizens.

The citizenship and rights to mother tongue education of non-Bumiputeras should never be disputed; hence I urge the police to investigate her remarks and take the necessary actions.

Respecting and safeguarding every race’s rights over their mother tongue, preserving and developing vernacular schools, have been the nation’s unyielding policy since Merdeka.

According to the Federal Constitution, Article 152 (1) provides that no person shall be prohibited or prevented from using (otherwise than for official purposes), or from teaching or learning, any other language. This is an undisputable assurance from the constitution. In addition, this also ensures the rights of anyone to attend the school types to their preference. Moreover, these schools (Chinese vernacular, Tamil vernacular, Malay national) have existed even before the country’s independence and are well established education systems with an unquestionable status in Malaysia’s history and the Federal Constitution.

As a national PAS women’s wing leader, it is truly disgraceful and disappointing for Muslimat PAS vice-chairperson Salamiah Mohd Nor to utter such irresponsible remarks which defies the Constitution.

Meanwhile, we also acknowledge and are glad to hear PAS Vice-President YB Dr. Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar’s explanation which affirmed that such narratives are not part of the party’s collective stand.

Datuk Heng Seai Kie

Wanita MCA Chairperson

-MCA online-