The Star Online: Nation
The Star Online: Nation |
- Improve quality of schools says Saifuddin
- Ipoh mosque features Chinese architecture
- Duo nabbed after 26km car chase
| Improve quality of schools says Saifuddin Posted: KUALA LUMPUR: While a single education system might be an ideal situation, the problem of quality in national schools should be addressed first, said Umno supreme council member Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah. "Unity is important and education is an important platform to foster unity among young people. "But we should get our priorities right. The quality of schools has to be improved," he said in response to a question from the floor on whether abolishing vernacular schools would be good for unity during the 7th Annual Malaysian Student Leaders Summit here yesterday. Saifuddin, who was formerly Deputy Higher Education Minister, believed that many parents sent their children to Chinese vernacular schools because of their prowess in Maths and Science. "There is a push-and-pull factor why non-Malay parents don't send their children to national schools. It's mainly about quality," he said, adding that even Malay parents were sending their children to Chinese schools. An estimated 80,000 non-Chinese students are studying in Chinese schools in the country. Saifuddin also believed that many national schools were becoming like sekolah agama (religious schools). "Even I as a Malay Muslim got that feeling. My Year Three daughter was singled out because she was not wearing a baju kurung. There are all kinds of stories that make people believe this," he said. Saifuddin said that Malaysians should work on their difficulties together rather than harping on their differences. He declared that he was a Malaysian first and a Malay second. Saifuddin said many parents were sending their children to private religious schools, which he believed were more open and progressive than national schools. "The results in these schools are good and they are more active in co-curricular activities," he said. AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, on his part, gave away several free airline tickets to lucky participants, including one ticket to watch Queens Park Rangers in England. He also took out his wallet when a student asked for some money to start a business. Tony, who had RM450 on him, gave the student RM200. Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) CEO Wan Saiful Wan Jan said people should be given a choice of the schools they would like their children to attend. "I strongly believe in the need for choice. In having that choice, we have to make sure that we do not become divided," he said. |
| Ipoh mosque features Chinese architecture Posted: IPOH: The RM4mil Muhammadiah Mosque here is said to be the first Chinese-Muslim mosque in the country with a 100% Chinese architectural design. The roof is imported from Longyan in China and at a first glance people may mistake the mosque for a Chinese temple. If one were to take a closer look, the inscription at the entrance states "Masjid Muhammadiah". Mosque committee deputy chairman Datuk Dr Fadzli Cheah Abdullah said there was a similar mosque in Kelantan, but the architecture was not 100% Chinese. "That one has Thai architectural influence," he said. "Therefore, this makes the mosque in Taman Tasek Jaya the pioneer with such architecture in the country. During the fasting month, several television stations featured the mosque in their documentaries. "And, the very next day a busload of tourists from China visited it," Dr Fadzli told reporters during a Hari Raya function at the mosque yesterday. The construction of the mosque began two years ago, and it now houses an air-conditioned prayer hall, a pond, garden and other facilities. Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, on behalf of the state government, presented RM300,000 to the mosque committee. He said the place could be turned into a tourist attraction, just like what several mosques in the country were known for. |
| Duo nabbed after 26km car chase Posted: KUALA LUMPUR: A high-speed car chase which started in Serdang ended with the arrest of two men wanted for car theft in Jalan Tun Razak some 26km away. City CID chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Ku Chin Wah said the two men, who were suspects in a luxury car theft and robbery case, were finally apprehended at the Jalan Tun Razak tunnel near the Prince Court Medical Centre. SAC Ku said the chase started at about 2pm when the two men, aged 27 and 29, were spotted in the Bukit Jalil area. "They were chased by a team from IPD Serdang. The first suspect is wanted for two cases involving car theft while the second man is being sought for a drug-related case," he said. |
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