The self-proclaimed “King of Malaysian Racists” Ibrahim Ali, the President of Perkasa, an organisation for championing the Malay rights, had a few days ago, beat his war drums to declare war against the Non-Malays in the event they ever thought of asking the Malaysian government to recognise the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) issued by the Chinese Independent High Schools run by Dong Zong.
Speaking at the annual general meeting of Perkasa at Stadium Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, Ibrahim Ali said, “Many people are making demands for the sake of votes as the general election approaches. We cannot compromise” and warned the people not to create disturbances or make noise if the UEC is not recognised by the government. In saying this Ibrahim Ali has betrayed himself. He is guilty of what he accused others of: aiming for votes.
Ibrahim Ali has his own political agenda and for which he uses anti-Non Malay baits to attract the Malay supports, one of which is his anti-UEC stance. He is reported to have said that he was “planning to contest again in Pasir Mas, Kelantan, and that he had worked very hard in that parliamentary constituency. Further, he is “open to being co-opted by either Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Harapan…”
His personal agenda of running for Parliament requires him to make the delegates to the forthcoming UMNO General Assembly and 
the voters in Pasir Mas constituency always mindful of the so-called threat to their interests – Malay language, Islam and Malay culture – posed by the Non-Malays.
He is reported to have said that “the government should not approve the UEC as it ran counter to the national education policy, as provided for in the Education Act 1996, and Article 152 (1) of the Federal Constitution, which specifies Malay as the national language.”
Is he correct in what he has said? This is what the Education Act 1996 says in respect of National language as the main medium of instruction:
“Section 17 (1) The national language shall be the main medium of instruction in all educational institutions in the National Education System except a national-type school established under section 28 or any other educational institution exempted by the Minister from this subsection.
Section 17 (2) Where the main medium of instruction in an educational institution is other than the national language the national language shall be taught as a compulsory subject in the educational institution.”
Is Ibrahim Ali contending that the Institution concerned has not complied with section 17 of the Education Act he had referred to?
The Federal Constitution states that Malay is the national language. No one in her or his right mind will deny it. But people like Ibrahim Ali conveniently overlook further provisions provided in the Federal Constitution in this regard.
He referred to Article 152 and said it “specifies Malay as the national language”. What else it specifies?
Article 152 in subsection (1) states, “The national language shall be the Malay language and shall be in such script as Parliament may by law provide:
“Provided that – (a) no person shall be prohibited or prevented from using (otherwise than for official purposes), or from teaching or learning, any other language; and
“(b) nothing in this Clause shall prejudice the right of the Federal Government or of any State Government to preserve and sustain the use and study of the language of any other community in the Federation.”
Writing in 1986, the former professor of law and Judge Visu Sinnadurai said, “Article 152 provides that the National Language of Malaysia shall be the Malay language and further by virtue of the proviso it is provided that except for official purpose no person shall be prohibited or prevented from using or teaching or learning, any other language. This Article would seem to suggest that freedom to teach or learn in any language other than Malay language is given under the Federal Constitution. There is no express provision in the Constitution nor in any legislation providing that the language in educational institution should be Malay.”
It is clear that under Article 152 (1) of the Federal Constitution no man born of woman can prevent the students of the Chinese Independent High Schools from learning their lessons in Mandarin or any other language.
It is perfectly clear that it is this provision that enabled the Chinese Independent High Schools to function all these years.
Now, the question is: why refuse to recognise the UEC certificate, which is a legitimate entitlement and expectation of the students? Is it a first step towards the move to make the students and their parents to get frustrated and abandon these schools?
Further, should those Malaysians who wilfully violate the provisions of the Federal Constitution be allowed to go scot-free?
IPPN wishes to draw the attention of every Malaysian to fact that the early Chinese and Indians have contributed enormously to the economic prosperity of this country. Today, their descendants in the Chinese Independent High Schools have done Malaysia proud with their outstanding academic performance. More than a thousand educational institutions, including the California Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Oxford University, University of Cambridge, University of Toronto and the National University of Singapore (NUS), throughout the World have recognised the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC). But, we have been refusing to recognise our own talents! Why? We know. Everyone knows. But let us be magnanimous. Give the students of the Chinese Independent High Schools what is due to them.
Tan Yew Sing,
President, For and on behalf of the
Inisiatif Pengislahan Pendidikan Nasional
