High Court: Jawi can be taught in vernacular schools

by Theleaders-Online | November 29, 2019 1:37 am

GEORGE TOWN: The High Court here yesterday ruled that Jawi is part of Bahasa Malaysia and therefore can be taught to pupils in Chinese and Tamil schools.

High Court judicial commissioner Amarjit Serjit Singh said the case ought to be thrown out as Jawi is part of Bahasa Malaysia, the national language.

His made the decision in dismissing Gerakan’s suit that Jawi script should not be taught in vernacular schools nationwide.

He said the implementation of Jawi classes was not in conflict with the spirit of the National Language Act 1963/1967 and the provisions of the Federal Constitution.

In September, Gerakan filed a suit against the federal government to challenge the government’s decision to implement the teaching of Jawi script in vernacular schools.

Tan Lee Kiat and Mak Kah Keong represented Gerakan which filed the suit through its president, Dominic Lau Hoe Chai, who named Education Minister Maszlee Malik, his deputy Teo Nie Ching and the federal government as respondents.

Mak said Gerakan central committee would meet to decide whether or not to appeal the decision.

Earlier, Amarjit also dismissed the argument by senior federal counsel Ahmad Hanir Hambali that Lau had no locus standi to sue the government because he is the president of a political party.

Amarjit dismissed the case but made no order as to costs.

Bernama

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