SARATOK: Non-Chinese parents sending their children to Chinese National Type Schools (SJKC) will foster racial harmony from an early age.
Kalaka assemblyman Mohamad Duri said the composition of bumiputera children in most SJKCs in rural Sarawak was thus higher.
He said religious education, especially Islam, at SJKCs was also not an issue, reflecting a high level of maturity among parents.
“Even though it is a Chinese-style school, religious education remains a priority. SJKC Min Syn, for example, successfully organises the Majlis Al-Quran Khatam every year.
“And headmaster Wong Poh Tien looks stylish in Malay clothes,” he said while inaugurating the Khatam Al-Quran SJKC Min Syn, Saturday.
He emphasised that parents should not hesitate to send their children to SJKCs.
“One advantage they will get is mastering Chinese, which is synonymous to the language of business.
“In fact, I understand that every year more and more bumiputera people send their children here. There are around 95 Muslim students.
“The basic principle remains the same, which is for our children to gain knowledge diligently in order to become successful people, and then be able to serve their parents, community, state and country.
“As a representative of the people, I do not discriminate between that school and this … the important thing is that the quality of excellence is prioritised,” he said.
Mohamad channeled RM5,000 to the school to help organise the Al Quran Khatam activity.
