The Star Online: Nation

MIC Youth cancels planned demonstration over visit by Sri Lanka president
Himpunan Hijau protestors say will stay overnight near Dataran Merdeka
Muhyiddin: Education blueprint has no ulterior motives

MIC Youth cancels planned demonstration over visit by Sri Lanka president

Posted: 25 Nov 2012 05:35 AM PST

Published: Sunday November 25, 2012 MYT 9:36:00 PM

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC Youth and a number of non-governmental organisations have cancelled a planned demonstration against the scheduled visit by Sri Lanka president Mahinda Rajapaksa to Malaysia on Wednesday.

Its chief T.Mohan told a press conference on Sunday that the demonstration, planned to be held in front of the Sri Lankan High Commission here, was cancelled following a news report that Rajapaksa would not be attending the Islamic World Economic Forum in Johor scheduled from Dec 4 to 6. - Bernama

Himpunan Hijau protestors say will stay overnight near Dataran Merdeka

Posted: 25 Nov 2012 05:12 AM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: Thirteen days after leaving Kuantan on a 300km march the Himpunan Hijau group protesting the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant reached the capital and parked themselves outside Dataran Merdeka which was cordoned off.

Surrounded by a big crowd that had joined the original group of protestors from Gombak, Himpunan Hijau chairman Wong Tack declared that they would remain outside Dataran until 9am on Monday but would not march to parliament as was the original plan.

As dusk fell on Sunday, the crowd began to shrink as many left the place.

Dang Wangi OCPD ACP Zainuddin Ahmad had earlier reminded the crowd that it was an offence to gather without giving notice.

The group had set off from Kuantan on Nov 12 and gathered at the Sentul market at about 1pm on Sunday before starting the last leg of their march to Dataran Merdeka.

Along the way, more supporters and a number of Pakatan leaders joined them.

However, the group had to stop at police barricades on two roads leading to Dataran Merdeka and volunteers formed a human chain to prevent marchers from going any further.

Organisers had originally planned to camp at Dataran Merdeka on Sunday night before heading to Parliament the next day to submit a memorandum against the commencement of the Lynas plant.

The People's Green Coalition representative Dr Khim Pa had said on Thursday that they decided to change the route and had invited MPs to listen to their woes and receive their memorandum at Dataran Merdeka.

The Kuantan High Court had on Nov 8 lifted the suspension of Lynas' temporary operating licence (TOL), paving the way for the plant to start operations.

Justice Datuk Mariana Yahya fixed Nov 30 to set the date for judicial review for an interim injunction application on the TOL filed by three Kuantan residents.

Muhyiddin: Education blueprint has no ulterior motives

Posted: 25 Nov 2012 03:43 AM PST

SERDANG: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said on Sunday that the National Education Blueprint (PPPM) 2013-2015 was launched with no ulterior motives or hidden agenda to sideline other languages.

Describing the query on the status of Chinese education raised by the United Chinese Schools Committees Association of Malaysia, or better known as Dong Zong, as a misunderstanding, Muhyiddin said the government was fair to all schools.

"The blueprint which was introduced to develop the country's education is being seen as something done at the expense of Chinese education, that is not true at all.

"All schools, except Chinese private schools which want to be independent, will benefit from the plan because we want to upgrade all schools," he told reporters after visiting the Malaysian International Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism (MAHA) Xxhibition here.

On Sunday, Dong Zong held a gathering to protest the blueprint claiming it feared that vernacular schools would be sidelined. It also called on the government to be fair to all schools.

On the issues raised by Dong Zong, Muhyiddin said there was no mention in PPPM that Chinese or Tamil schools would be sidelined.

In fact, it clearly stated that all national-type Chinese (SJKCs) and Tamil (SJKTs) schools would be maintained.

He said the additional teaching time for Bahasa Malaysia in SJKCs and SJKTs would be carried out by conducting extra classes without affecting the time for the teaching of Chinese or Tamil.

On the abolition of transition or 'remove' classes, which Dong Zong objected to, Muhyiddin said the classes would be unnecessary if the learning of the Malay language in SJKCs and SJKTs was on par with normal schools.

The deputy prime minister said Dong Zong should stop making accusations at the government, adding that their action was politically motivated.

He said Dong Zong always looked at efforts made by the government as ill-intentioned and aimed at diminishing the Chinese language. "If that is the intention, it could have been done ages ago. The proof is that after 55 years of independence, the Barisan Nasional government did not do it. No Chinese schools were closed.

"There is no ruling that Chinese cannot be taught, instead there are more Chinese teachers and also Chinese schools now," he added.

This, he said, proved that the views of the Dong Zong were wrong and hoped that the Chinese community would not be misled by them. - Bernama

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Ahad, 25 November 2012