THIS is my response to UMNO Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh’s “Mabuk Apa” swipe at me for questioning his superficial and racist remarks about the vernacular schools in the country.
I expected the UMNO youth leader Akmal to have responded rationally and maturely to my argument about the existence of the vernacular schools in the country.
Not surprisingly, he responded by saying that I might be mabuk (literally drunk) or “confused” about my defence of the vernacular schools.
He is trying to peddle the usual and mundane stereotype of racists and bigots that as an ethnic Indian I might have some proclivity towards alcohol.
A typical racist UMNO leader who cannot even engage in a normal debate about the vernacular schools and why the necessity for the government to review them. Such a confused, childish and immature character.
UMNO having lost virtually all Malay support is like a candle burning bright before the glare vanishes for good.
Dr Akmal calls himself an UMNO youth leader but what a tragedy for the misguided UMNO youth members to have leader like him to lead them stray on an important subject as the existence of vernacular schools in the country.
I challenge him to call for the closing down of the vernacular schools. I would like to know how his DAP friends would take this challenge.
I repeat my argument that the passion for the existence of the vernacular schools is fuelled by the ethnic and religious discrimination against the non-Malays that was perfected by UMNO in days when the Barisan Nasional (BN) was in power.
But unfortunately, UMNO’s misguided and misinformed leaders like Dr Akmal has no understanding of history, perhaps a distorted version of Malay hegemonic history.
By the way, the about-to-be-registered United for the Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) is not racially or ethnically defined. Unlike UMNO, the membership is open to all the races, particularly the disadvantaged and marginalised.
Is Dr Akmal afraid that if vernacular schools are not closed down in the near future, Malay enrolment might increase in the Chinese schools? – March 11, 2024
Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the Urimai (United Rights of Malaysian Party) Interim Council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
