RENOWNED Muslim convert preacher Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah has hit out at the viralling of Chinese vernacular schools with big Malay pupil population when the reality is that these schools “are meant to be closed but cannot be closed because the ultra kiasu (his popular reference for chauvinist) authorities are afraid of losing votes”.

Pointing to Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Chi Sin in Batu Kikir, Bahau, Negri Sembilan which recently made headlines after all its newly-enrolled 20 Standard One pupils comprised Malay children, the academician claimed that Chinese parents will shy away from sending their kids to schools with majority Malay children.

“Why do Chinese parents choose the nearby SJKC (Chinese national-type primary schools) that has more Chinese pupils there than SJKC that has many Malay children.” he penned in a recent Facebook rebuttal.

“Can’t we still not understand why? The answer is very simples: if they mix a lot with the Malays, they will follow the Malay behaviour and the children will not be able to master good Mandarin.”

Earlier, the political science lecturer of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin in Kuala Terengganu contended that as the majority of Batu Kikir residents are Malays, “they’re obviously happy” to send their children to SJKC Chi Sin while the Chinese have either moved to other areas or that there is other “more Chinese-majority SJKCs in the vicinity”.

Below are more verbatim thoughts of Ridhuan who is also the Muafakat Nasional deputy president on Chinese vernacular schools which both him and fellow academician Prof Datuk Teo Kok Seong claimed to be breeding ground of intolerance leading to disunity especially among the new generation Malaysians. 

https://focusmalaysia.my/ridhuan-tee-chinese-parents-wont-send-their-kids-to-vernacular-schools-with-majority-malay-pupils/