Second congress on Jawi to proceed on Sunday

(Malaysiakini) – Dong Jiao Zong’s congress regarding Jawi education may be nixed, but a separate event by different organisers on the same issue will be proceeding on Sunday.

The congress by the Seni Khat Action Team (Sekat) will be held at the Crystal Crown Hotel in Petaling Jaya on Sunday morning.

Sekat secretary Arun Doraisamy (photo) said police had already been informed of the matter, and they are also hoping that Education Minister Maszlee Malik will attend.

“I urge Maszlee to take this opportunity to show up in good faith for the sake of unity to resolve this issue and listen to the rakyat,” he said in a statement tonight.

Sekat wants the government to review its decision to introduce Jawi in the Bahasa Malaysia syllabus at Chinese and Indian vernacular schools.

This is will appear in three pages of the Year 4 Bahasa Malaysia textbooks for 2020.

At present, the Education Ministry’s policy is that this section is optional for vernacular schools, subject to approval from parents and parent-teacher associations.

Earlier yesterday, Kajang police obtained a court order barring Dong Jiao Zong’s event today.

According to the court order sighted by Malaysiakini, Kajang magistrate Syahrul Sazly Mohd Sain granted the restriction order in view that there would be a breach of the peace if the meeting was allowed to proceed.

Dong Zong, which wants vernacular school boards to decide on the Jawi matter, has said it will abide by the court order.