KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Women chief Kho Teck Wan said unity is not something that is achievable by putting kids under the same roof, especially in this digital age thus a Wawasan school is not the answer to force unity among students.
Our existing education system should instead promote unity so that extremists, unfair practices and laws which are threats to unity should be stopped by both the society and the government.
Kho pointed out that in Sarawak, we want our children to learn and be proud of their own race, religion and culture, while acknowledging and respecting others’ differences.
We can develop a society that values and respects diversity and thus will be able to achieve unity. Supporting religious organisations, mission schools and Chinese independent schools are some of the ways Sarawak Government shows respect to its people.
“I believe moderation and respect can be taught and expressed in any language. We don’t have Wawasan schools in Sarawak.
What we have are lots of mission schools, sekolah agama and Chinese schools, yet Sarawakians live harmoniously in this melting pot where her people speak multiple languages, practise different religions and have very different cultures.
Thus, to me, there is no Wawasan school; unity is done through understanding, tolerating and respecting each others’ differences.
