Statement Released by Dong Zong

August 21, 2019

Dong Zong Concerns over Retrenchment in Utusan Melayu

The Freedom of the Press in Media is Mandatory

Dong Zong concerns over the retrenchment of Utusan Melayu and its partner press “Kosmo!” due to financial difficulty which culminated salary in arrears. We urge the late Utusan Melayu Holdings to disclose their financial status of the two papers for public supervision; meanwhile, Dong Zong also beseeches the government to face up to journalists’ right of labour, and to ruminate the way to media environment reform and the freedom of the press.

News media owns the fourth power to supervise the government, and the freedom of the press is the overarching value of a democratic society which cannot be denied. Attributed to historical factors, Utusan Melayu has since been the confined Friday man of political party and is caught in a dire calamity in democratic transformation. As disclosed, its administration does not observe labour and management agreement, and salary in arrears is a commonplace. We decry its inhumane practice towards the interests of its staff. We believe, without labour right, freedom of the press will perish. The protection of labours’ working environment assures the quality of news report. We opine that the Utusan Melayu retrenchment begs for a necessary reform of the entire industry and system. Our inspirations are as follows: (1) political party should not be in any way directly or indirectly run or invest in the media industry; (2) the monopoly of media should be forbidden by law; (3) the revocation of media suppression and its policy should be in place; and (4) cultural policy such as the freedom of speech should be guaranteed as it decides the upward development of media and the freedom of the press.

Utusan Melayu is time-honoured. Prior to Independence, Mr Lim Lian Geok, the late President of Jiao Zong was invited by Utusan Melayu to contribute an article entitled “The Psychological Construction” for the Fast-breaking Festival message. In the article, Mr Lim raised that all ethnic groups in the country should work in unity, keeping “prosperity and coexistence” in mind for the upward mobility of the nation. His idea remains until this day among Chinese the guiding principle in the fight for multi-cultural right.

It is well acknowledged that Utusan Melayu had contributed its part in the advocacy of anti- British colonisation and had scored a prestigious point in the history of the freedom of the press but not afterwards. During the fifties, Utusan Melayu abounded with respectful and seminal writers, journalists and social movement activists like Said Zahari, Usman Awang, A. Samad Said, Samad Ismail and Kamaluddin Muhamad. To our regret, after the fifties when it was “nationalised” by political party, the freedom of the press was muzzled. Utusan Melayu has since become the mouthpiece of the party until today.

We think Utusan Melayu should promptly settle the salaries in arrears and pay for the retrenchment. Active engagement in negotiation to ensure the interests of the labours is a priority. Lastly, we urge political party in general to detach from newspapers operation; all parties and the government as well as politicians should be abstinent and keep their hands out of the media. Simultaneously, the government should take the initiative to prevent media monopoly to safeguard media diversity and pluralism, hopefully to formulate a mechanism which vows to prevent the media from becoming the mouthpiece and dresser of political party.

Joint Statement

August 20, 2019

1.   In response to the latest directive on Jawi scripts learning released by the cabinet, we herewith repeat our adamant objection on the implementation of Jawi scripts learning and writing in vernacular schools but not its brief introduction, yet we embrace the proficiency promotion objective of Bahasa Melayu in national-type primary school curriculum. We believe, the government has made the correct move by attending to non-Muslims and made apposite amendment to the measure to avert qualms.

2.   We deplore the government’s decision to make the Parent Teacher Association, parents as well as students decision makers on the Jawi scripts learning implementation as it bothers on effective execution and ensues qualms. It is a general fact that many national-type Chinese primary schools in East Malaysia are operating without Parent and Teacher Associations and their Board of Directors generally engaged members from parents, teachers and alumni. As such, we believe the Board of Directors of the schools should be given the mandate to make the final decision on the said matter.

3.   The decision of the Ministry to turn the introduction of Seni Khat into a brief introduction of Jawi scripts plays a critical role in relieving qualms among non-Muslims. For practice reference, the Ministry may refer to the model used in the existing Grade Five Bahasa Melayu coursebook, which consists solely the brief introduction of Jawi calligraphy.

4.   Due to the fact that many doubts-provoking details are yet to be clarified in the implementation, we therefore beseech the Ministry of Education to promptly release its related curriculum, contents of the coursebook and executive procedures, as well as ensuring the draft has reached a consensus beforehand with stakeholders including Dong Jiao Zong and Tamil educational organisations for the assurance of maintaining the unique characteristics of vernacular schools. It is our belief, if the Ministry engages continuous communications with stakeholders in a rational manner, disputes will be resolved and eventually cross racial harmony and unity to stay.

5.   Attributed to the ongoing scenarios, accessible materials will be gathered, later studied with relevant stakeholders and associations abreast, including the Ministry of Education for a holistic grasp of the situation to inform ensuing responses.

Undersigned Organisations and Associations:

• Dong Zong
• Jiao Zong
• The Chinese Assembly Hall
• The United Chinese School Alumni Association of Malaysia
• The Federation of Alumni Associations of Taiwan Universities, Malaysia
• Merdeka University Berhad
• Lim Lian Geok Foundation
• Malaysia Chinese Language Council
• The Association of Graduates from the Universities and Colleges in China, Malaysia

Joint Statement Released by Dong Zong and Jiao Zong

August 13, 2019

Dong Zong Laments Speech Made by the Prime Minister

Seni Khat to be Maintained in Islamic Education Curriculum

In response to the “racist” allegation made by our Prime Minister Tun Mahathir towards Dong Zong, let alone extreme disappointment, we strongly urge politicians to be deliberate in their speech and action to avoid the initiation of conflicts and the advocacy of confrontation.

1. Dong Zong proclaims formally herewith, from the very beginning it stands firm on mother tongue education and embraces pluralistic culture education. Dong Zong understands the pluralistic reality of our country and thus it opposes any measure which denies recognition, respect and compassion towards cultural differences as well as the derogatory measure towards other races. Vowing to boost inter-school cultural integration activities, a multiracial and cultural development committee was established by Dong Zong of late.
2. Dong Zong is never the sole organisation which opposes the Seni Khat unit. The opposition is verily the unanimous voice of the non-Muslim communities in the Malaysia peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak. Further, the Seni Khat implementation is verily not widely accepted by all ethnic Melayu; in fact, even Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz pointed out that it cannot be a required subject, but rather, optional in vernacular schools.
3. The Ministry of Education hitherto has not consulted non-Muslim organisations like Dong Zong, Jiao Zong, Tamil Foundation and the Malaysia Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism on the Jawi scripts learning implementation and their unanimous voice strongly vindicates the real situation. As informed, Seni Khat has long been included in the Islamic education curriculum for Grade Four Muslim students and they have learned Jawi scripts since Grade One. Our doubt being, for any non-Muslim, what is the point of incorporating Seni Khat in the Grade Four Bahasa Melayu subject for vernacular school students when its preliminary knowledge was not taught at early stage? Moreover, in the Islamic curriculum standard, it is imperative that Jawi scripts and calligraphy to be taught from Grade One to Six. On that score, the Jawi scripts and calligraphy learning should stay in the Islamic education curriculum as it stands but not in vernacular schools.
4. Dong Zong objects to the learning of Seni Khat as it is forwarded as a religion propagandising tool and it is evidently part of the Islamisation agenda that fazes non-Muslims. Nik Omar Nik Aziz, the President of the Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (henceforth YADIM), has explicitly expressed his religious motif, viz., he espouses “the government’s move to introduce Jawi scripts and Seni Khat” to “benefit the coming generation and they will continue using Khat. By learning Khat, it will also make it easier for them to understand the Qu’ran”. Other than that, the forwarding religious motif of Seni Khat likewise was reflected in academic document, for instance, “The Contributions of the Arabian Calligraphy in the Islamic Art: A Historical Study” written by Dr Mohd Bakhir Hi Abdullah.
5. Dong Zong, standing as a non-Muslim organisation, can understand Muslims’ fervent love for Jawi scripts and Seni Khat. We support the will of those organisations such as the YADIM and the like, viz., to promote the mastery of Jawi scripts. That said, we suggest that they should continue to teach Seni Khat in Islamic schools but we oppose to include Seni Khat in the Bahasa Melayu coursebook for vernacular schools. This act fazes non-Muslim parents, to be precise. If Seni Khat is introduced mandatorily, it will belie the non-enforcement principle of Islam.
6. Dong Zong fully supports Bahasa Malaysia as the national language of the country and the Roman writing is the sole script writing of Bahasa Melayu, as stated clearly in Article 32 (9) of the National Language Acts 1963/67: The script of the national language shall be the Roman script provided that this shall not prohibit the use of the Malay script, more commonly known as the Jawi script, of the national language.
7. Dong Zong respects Jawi scripts as a cultural heritage and it is the key towards earlier published works in the Malay language. We also understand the efforts put in for the preservation of Jawi scripts by both the government and the Malay world. But the prerequisite of accepting and learning Jawi scripts is the social functions (for expression and discussion) it bears, just like non-Muslims can use Arabian in countries such as Palestine, Lebanon and Egypt, including its use in Christianity.
8. Dong Zong appeals Tun Mahathir to listen to opinions from all accounts on Jawi scripts learning and not to overlook non-Muslims’ views. Before any measure of sensitive issues is to be imposed by the government, we wish consultations from germane stakeholders and communities are duly sought after. Dong Jiao Zong wishes to vindicate its stance towards the Prime Minister and hopes the Minister of Education Dr Maszlee and his office will establish a consultation committee for languages and religions to avoid dispute like Seni Khat to beset recurringly.

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