Joint Statement Released by Dong Zong and Its State Members

August 10, 2019

Appeal for the Revocation of Seni Khat in Vernacular Schools

1. We understand from research findings and documentation accessible worldwide that Seni Khat is in practice a genre used for the spreading and dissemination of the Islamic Qu’ran. The measure of teaching Seni Khat in all vernacular schools is not only unacceptable by the non-Muslims, but it also conflicts Section 12 Article 3 in the Federal Constitution. To this end, we firmly plead for the revocation of the to-be-implemented measure, but the retainment of the existing unit taught since 2015 which introduces the calligraphies of the ethnic groups, including Jawi, Chinese characters and Tamil in Grade Five Bahasa Melayu coursebook.
2. We would like to stress that Malaysia is a country which practices secularisation. It was the social contract agreed upon and the tacit understanding of all ethnic groups after Independence. This contract safeguards the interest and sustains social accord of the nations. The Federal Constitution of Malaysia protects the right to freedom of religion or belief, including religious manifestation by way of professing, practicing and propagating one’s religious beliefs.
3. Dong Jiao Zong respects pluralistic culture, including the Jawi scripts and Islamic culture and is working on cross ethnical exchanges for the mere goal of mutual understanding. We espouse cross-ethnic cultural interactions imposed in schools by the Ministry, including ingraining multicultural values in both the curriculum and activities as it helps students learn about the ethnical characteristics of other races, provided this measure accords the real situation of the vernacular schools and the unique characteristics of the schools maintained.
4. We wish to see the determined will of the government in reformation and the abandonment of old mindset so as to make informed decision on the revocation of unitary education policy. That said, before any measure of sensitive issue is to be imposed, consultations from germane stakeholders and communities are sought after. We would recommend the government to ensure fair and comprehensive exchanges with stakeholders and the general public, take the multiracial and multi-religious reality accountable before any planning, execution and assessment are to stay. This way, all-rounding solution will be in place for upward development and governance. As such, we believe, social trust will not be dishonoured and conflicts accelerated.

Joint Statement Made by Dong Zong and Jiao Zong

August 6, 2019

Adamant Objection to Jawi Scripts Learning in Vernacular Schools

1. Early today the representatives from Chinese organisations and Tamil associations submitted the consensus (set aside first and discuss later) reached among the twelve Chinese organisations on the August 5 joint meeting which clearly conveys their stance towards the Seni Khat unit. There are altogether five points approved in the general agreement.
2. The participants from the Chinese organisations and Tamil associations posited their adamant objection towards the learning of Jawi scripts in all vernacular schools.
3. The attendees unanimously agreed that the existing brief introduction of Jawi scripts in the Grade Five Bahasa Melayu coursebook is acceptable but not in-depth learning which demands writing, assignment and the eventual examination.
4. All participants in the meeting reiterated their “set aside first and discuss later” decision to be conveyed to the Deputy Minister of Education. They further suggested to hold a discussion on DSKP (Curriculum and Assessment Standard) between the relevant stakeholders for a better solution on the implementation of a brief introduction of Jawi scripts in national-type primary schools; they agreed in addition, for a fair and healthy education system and measure to come into play, comprehensive interaction and discussion should be staged for relevant educational parties and stakeholders, in particular when the issue is sensitive among the ethnic groups in the country.

Joint Statement: Set Aside First, Discuss Later

August 5, 2019

The associations and groups of community below have reached the following consensus today upon the second phase (applicable to Grade 4, 5 and 6) additional inclusion of Seni Khat in the Bahasa Melayu coursebook for vernacular schools:

1. According to the statement released by the Ministry of Education on 2^nd August 2019, the Curriculum and Assessment Standard as well as the contents of the Bahasa Melayu coursebook will be duly reviewed; that said, only a brief introduction of the Jawi calligraphy will be included in the national-type primary school curriculum but not formative assessment and the like. In addition, proverbs will not be used in the coursebook for Jawi learning and practice so that no heavier burden will be shouldered on teachers and learners. Yet we receive the directive with guarded optimism.The statement released by the Ministry is thought to have a deluge of doubts yet to be clarified and hence we beseech the Ministry to release the nuts and bolts of the amendment process for the relief of public doubts. Attributed to this prerequisite, we decided to set the matter aside first and discuss further later.
2. We herewith reiterate: our objection towards the additional inclusion of Jawi calligraphy in the vernacular school Bahasa Melayu coursebook is adamant as it defies the practical needs of Bahasa Melayu learning and does not help in the promotion of Bahasa Melayu proficiency. We are convinced, the promotion of Bahasa Melayu proficiency is the major objective at primary level for all vernacular school students. Therefore, as a means of fun learning in the language, a brief introduction of Jawi calligraphy will be excessive and germane guidelines should be included in the Curriculum and Assessment Standard for teachers’ reference. To attain this goal, the ministry may refer to the existing Grade Five Bahasa Melayu coursebook in which brief introduction of Jawi calligraphy is presented, apart from calligraphies of other ethnic groups.
3. Our objection to the additional inclusion of Jawi scripts learning in the Grade Four Bahasa Melayu coursebook is impregnable yet it does not imply that we are against either the learning of Bahasa Melayu, Jawi or multi-culture, only if the implementation is based on pedagogical theories and the consideration for extra burden relief. According to Section 9 of the National Language Act, Roman writing is vindicated the official writing for Bahasa Melayu notwithstanding the concurrent use of Jawi. We totally espouse the learning of Bahasa Melayu in Roman writing, and hence are against the inclusion of Jawi calligraphy learning in Bahasa Melayu teaching. This attitude cannot be translated as anti-patriotism or an act of disrupting national harmony. The claim that anti-Jawi scripts learning equates anti-patriotism is both tendentious and incendiary. We hope these irresponsible individuals and communities will put an end to the calumniation for their personal agenda as it is not only diabolical but also inapposite towards national harmony.
4. We will give full support to the cross ethnic and culture activities introduced in schools by the Ministry of Education, including the curriculum and activities of vernacular schools which well entrench cultural values. They are forwarded for cultural understanding of other ethnic groups but with the prerequisite of being consonant with the real situation of vernacular schools and not eventually changing their existing unique characteristics.
5. We will broach this matter with the Deputy Education Minister tomorrow not only for mutual understanding but to convey our stance and needs, including the appointment of representatives from Chinese organisations and Tamil associations in the review process of the said curriculum to prevent worrying decision made by the Ministry. We wish the Ministry of Education will attend to public views and settle this dispute appropriately in due course.

Undersigned Organisations and Groups:

1. Jiao Zong
2. Dong Zong
3. The Chinese Assembly Hall
4. The Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry
5. The United Chinese School Alumni Association of Malaysia
6. The Federation of Alumni Associations of Taiwan Universities, Malaysia
7. Merdeka University Berhad
8. Malaysia Chinese Language Council
9. The Association of Graduates from the Universities and Colleges in China, Malaysia
10. Tamil Foundation
11. Persatuan Titian Digital Malaysia

Joint Statement Made by Dong Zong and Jiao Zong

August 3, 2019

In response to the recent report made by Sinchew Daily and Utusan Malaysia pointing out that Dong Zong and relevant organisations will stage a rally on the 5 of August with the intent to voice objection against the additional Jawi Scripts Learning in the Bahasa Melayu subject in vernacular primary schools, Dong Jiao Zong feels that the misnomers in their reports were dubious as well as misleading and a redress is urgently needed. This statement is thus forwarded.

1. Dong Jiao Zong clarifies that there will be no rally of any sorts to be staged on the Jawi scripts learning issue but an internal meeting held for Chinese organisations and Tamil associations. Its objective is to exchange views on the Jawi scripts learning in national-type Chinese and Tamil primary schools. The meeting will be held upon the equal footing of informed pedagogy, learning effectiveness, real situation, practical function, the promotion of Bahasa Melayu knowledge and the mastery of the language to examine the Jawi scripts learning implementation raised by the Ministry of Education. Meanwhile, participants in the meeting will also further study the latest statement released by the Ministry of Education the previous day.

2. The attendees in this internal meeting will mull on the appreciation of Jawi scripts implemented by the Ministry. Dong Jiao Zong has no objection on any cultural interactions between ethnic groups and the promotion of value and harmony existing in the multicultural society imposed by the Ministry. It is solely that any worrying approach employed to tackle the issue should not be in place before any fruitful discussions and exchanges are obtained between the educational parties and stakeholders in this multicultural society.

3. Dong Jiao Zong is worried that any inaccurate reports will likely beckon misunderstanding and suspicions or worse still, conflicts. Dong Jiao Zong therefore hereby pronounces and emphasises the August 5 meeting is merely an internal meeting for specially invited organisations from various communities and it is not a rally as reported.

Joint Statement Released by Dong Zong and Jiao Zong

July 29, 2019

Dong Zong Objects to Additional Jawi Calligraphy in Vernacular Schools Bahasa Melayu Subject

Dong Jiao Zong is firmly against the Seni Khat (Jawi Scripts Learning) unit to be included in the national-type primary school Bahasa Melayu curriculum. Meanwhile, Dong Jiao Zong will stage a joint meeting with other Chinese associations and Tamil educational organisations. The meeting is intended to collect viable comments and subsequently forward recommendation to the MOE hoping the Ministry will attend to public views and abandon the mentioned unit eventually. Dong Jiao Zong is not against the learning of calligraphy of any ethnic group just that the curricular inclusion of Jawi scripts learning in the Bahasa Melayu subject is thought to be inappropriate. As scheduled by the Ministry, the Seni Khat unit will be included and taught to Grade 4 to 6 students in national-type Chinese and Tamil primary schools.

It was informed that the Jawi script learning unit is merely part of the fun language learning, which is claimed to help students appreciate Malay calligraphy and not the teaching of Jawi scripts. Yet it is expected that learners can recognise, distinguish and read the taught Jawi scripts and pronounce them precisely and write subsequently according to the Grade Four curriculum standard of vernacular schools. Further to this, the briefing made by the Ministry of Education officials likewise pointed out that students would learn Jawi scripts through the five proverbs provided. Dong Jiao Zong is convinced, this learning model has in practice incorporated Jawi scripts learning, and not merely calligraphy appreciation.

Dong Jiao Zong understands that Bahasa Melayu was written in Jawi scripts in the past and later replaced by Roman (RUMI) writing. The syntaxes of the two forms of writing are totally different. For any non-Muslim student, Jawi scripts are totally unfamiliar scripts and inevitably extra efforts will be needed to excel. As a matter of fact, Jawi scripts learning and Bahasa Melayu learning have no direct correlation; the learning of Jawi scripts will not in any way help in the learning of Bahasa Melayu.

Malaysia is a multiracial, multicultural and multi-religious country. We are delighted to see that all ethnic groups get to know one another’s culture, including their calligraphy but we cannot compromise with pushed learning. If Jawi calligraphy were to be included in Bahasa Melayu subject for all vernacular primary schools, Dong Jiao Zong would think it wise to restricted on the appreciation of its calligraphy merely. At the meantime, if the intent is to promote the ability to appreciate its calligraphy, then efforts should also be put in the incorporation of calligraphies of other ethnic groups to be taught in the Art subject. Other than this, its learning can also be encouraged by virtue of co-curricular activities.

We second and support cross-ethnic cultural exchange in schools, but are firmly against unnecessary inclusion of curricular units and contents that entails extra efforts for both teachers and students. The good intention of promoting cross-ethnic cultural interaction should be looked forward to in light of the incorporation of multicultural values embedded in the curriculum and activities of other stream schools and this act is believed to be the practical way to show understanding and care in national harmony.