The tantrums of the Education Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein in the past few days, accusing the Chinese educational bodies Dong Jiao Zong of being “not sincere” and declaring that “it’s not the end of the world” if he did not meet the Dong Jiao Zong leaders or that the government will not protect Chinese education have rightly been criticized by many as manifestation of his “arrogance of power”.
But these tantrums also show his “puerile” dimension. It is time Hishammuddin stop being “childish”, be conscious that he is charge of one of the most important ministries in government and begin to conduct himself as Education Minister for all Malaysians and all streams of education by setting an early date for a meeting with Dong Jiao Zong in keeping with the Prime Minister’s injunction to all Ministers to “hear the truth” from the people and all sectors of Malaysian society.
I still wonder why Hishammuddin “blew his top” on Tuesday, openly accusing Dong Jiao Zong of being “not sincere” for laying down conditions for a meeting with him, which has been proven to be untrue by Dong Jiao Zong.
Was Hishammuddin misled by Chinese newspaper reports that day on the ten resolutions of the Jiao Zong 2007 Annual General meeting calling, among other things, for:
- Revision of the National Education Blueprint 2006-2010 to make it compatible with Malaysia’s multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-lingual characteristics;
- Repeal of the “final objective” of the national education policy to have only one language as medium of instruction at all levels of the education system.
- Review of the use of English to teach mathematics and science from Primary One;
- Re-opening of Damansara Chinese Primary School; and
- Adequate trained teachers and fair allocation of funding for Chinese primary schools.
As Hishammuddin does not read the Chinese newspapers, was the Education Minister who is also Umno Youth leader misled in “blowing his top” at Dong Jiao Zong on Tuesday. If so, who was responsible for misleading Hishammuddin? To the Malaysian public, if it is not Gerakan, then it must be MCA.
Most pertinent of all, why did the MCA Deputy Education Minister Datuk Hon Choon Kin allow his Minister to be so misled as to make a most unwarranted public attack on Dong Jiao Zong — or was he chiefly instrumental for misleading Hishammuddin?
It is most unwise for Hishammuddin to raise the question of “sincerity” when he himself has yet to set a good example, as he has not yet brought to a satisfactory end of his most provocative and indefensible wielding of the Malay keris in the past two Umno Youth general assemblies in circumstances which clearly demonstrated his utter disregard for the sensitivities and rights of all races and communities in plural Malaysia.
I do not know whether Hishammuddin has also been given the wrong advice that he has now acquired the “political capital” to publicly lambast Dong Jao Zong because of his recent highly-publicised educational visit to China.
If so, Hishammuddin has again been given wrong advice. Hishammuddin is setting out on a completely mistaken direction and he should turn back before he makes more mistakes.
He should end his arrogant and childish tantrums and meet up with Dong Jiao Zong to hear the “truth” about the national education policy, however unpleasant, so that the National Education Blueprint 2006-2010 could be more rounded, representative and effective in achieving for Malaysia a quality education system which fully respects the mother-tongue educational aspirations of Malaysians as well as to enhance the country’s international competitiveness to face the challenges of globalization.
(Speech at DAP ceramah in Ipoh on Thursday, 31st May 2007 at 10 pm)
if the meeting proceeded and DJ Zong achieved understanding & agreement with Hishammuddin, it may look bad on MCA or Gerakan who cant achieve such results.
UMNO craps hav been thinking tt they r untouchable n never wrong since birth… so it is quite difficult to squeeze out even a single drop of apology from them. hasnt the bocor incident told us enough? how long has it been since tt incident? 3 weeks? still no apology right?
Actually I don’t even understand what is the issue here of Hishammuddin Hussein versus Dong Jiao Zong and the posturings for political capital in between.
Has Dong Jiao Zong really laid down conditions for a meeting with Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein or is it a misunderstanding? Can’t they just talk instead of throwing tantrums? Education shouldn’t be politicized for political capital, either sides.
Isn’t the gap of ideological positions between in Hishammuddin’s championing of Malay nationalism and Dong Jiao Zong’s Chinese education much narrower today than it ever has been if one compares it with Mahathir’s administration?
I thought the Hishammuddin has agreed to the following : the vision school project is on hold;Chinese schools issue is no longer sensitive;the Chinese community should not worry; and the problem of shortage of teachers in Chinese schools is being addressed by the Ministry.
Now isn’t true that Education Ministry’s allocation of RM1.409mil to 248 Chinese primary schools last year was highest since 2001, which money is to be used for school refurbishment and extension projects?
During Mahathir’s administration Dong Jiao Zong was described by UMNO leaders as chauvinists. UMNO then sidelined Chinese educated leaders within BN who were Chinese educated such as Lim Kim Sai – and Lee San Choon (?)
Today Chinese educated leaders – Ong Ka Ting & Chan Kong Choy are endorsed by Pak Lah’s administration which if one compares with Mahathir’s probably has a higher level of concessions on Chinese Education issues in keeping with his call to hear the truth from the people and all sectors of Malaysian society.
Or am I missing something here that as far as the issue of Chinese Education goes, the gap between Dong Jiao Zong – Hishammuddin Hussein is narrower today than before?
“Education shouldn’t be politicized for political capital, either sides.”
You can say that again. Where have you been all these four decades??
Education has been politicized by both the political party running the government AND the Opposition.
The ruling party had education politicized way back in the 60s. After so many years and seeing the mess they helped create, they decided to send their children for an overseas education. They are still doing it.
As for the Opposition all it has managed to do is oppose.
It is a great surprise to me that the grandson of an enlightened non-racist (SIR Dato’ Onn Jaafar) has turned out to be such a blighted racist (Hisap-mmudin Hussien). I guess the adage “The apple never falls far from the tree” has been proven wrong.
Count Dracula does bring up a good point, that education should not be used as a political. However, education is ALWAYS used as a political tool. History books, educational policies and language of instruction are being changed to suit the administration of the day, not only in M’sia, but, in all countries that have a spastic government.
Given the history of Chinese education in Malaysia, which has produced some of the great minds and business people, we as a nation should celebrate and support it. In fact it would even be wise to put the Education Ministry under Dong Jiao Zong, so all Malaysians can benefit from a superior standard.
Hisap-mmudin need not worry about his job if that happens. There happens to be plenty of vacancies @ Lorong Dhoby in JB.
Papa Dol has shipped shiploads of Japanese katana which should provide Kerismuddin and his ball carriers with a new toy to play with. So long as he is kept busy with this new toy, it is unlikely he will cause any more trouble.
Hisap-muddin can go hisap some where else.
Hear, hear.
The world is finding out that there is much that can be learnt from the Chinese civilsation with over 5,000 (?) years of progress and development under its civilisation belt.
All…except Malaysia.
Correct ENDANGERED HORNBILL. It is because of the racial chauvinism of the malay people.
This same problem also exists in Indonesia. I have met many chinese indonesians in my travels, and, most are ashamed to admit that they are chinese. It is racial intolerance and bigotry of the malay that has caused the chinese people to shed their identity in exchange for some peace and quiet. Howver, it hasn’t helped. They are still the targets of racial hatred.
So, I personally believe that giving up our minority indentity or not to speak up will not help us in the long term. We must fight, and, fight now.