How is the jawi script teaching policy creating racial tension?

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The Jawi Script Teaching Policy and Escalating Racial Tensions

The policy mandating the teaching of the jawi script in vernacular schools has become a focal point of racial tension in Malaysia, primarily driven by the opposition of Chinese educationist groups like Dong Jiao Zong and the strong reactions from Malay-Muslim organisations. Dong Jiao Zong's planned congress to protest the Education Ministry's directive has been labelled as "anti-national" and racist by Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh, the head of PAS's ulama wing, who argues that such actions are deliberately creating disquiet and anger among Muslims. This opposition, coupled with concerns about potential ethnic violence, highlights a deep-seated disagreement over the integration of jawi script into the curriculum of non-Malay vernacular schools.
Dong Jiao Zong's Opposition and Accusations of Insolence

Dong Jiao Zong, an organisation advocating for Chinese education, has organised a petition and plans to hold a Chinese Organisation Congress on December 28, aiming to rally support from Chinese NGOs to oppose the Education Ministry's implementation of jawi script lessons. These lessons are set to be introduced in vernacular school textbooks. Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh has accused Dong Jiao Zong of being insolent for orchestrating these protests, which he claims are causing significant racial tension and threatening national peace by provoking anger among Muslims. The group's refusal to cancel the planned congress, despite advice and growing unease, has further exacerbated the situation.
PAS Ulama Wing's Call for a Ban and Threats of Ethnic Violence

The PAS Central Ulama Wing, through its head Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh, has explicitly called for Dong Jiao Zong to be banned, citing their alleged racist attitude and anti-national defiance of a court order that supported the Education Ministry's policy. This strong stance is not isolated; Gamis, a student group aligned with PAS, has issued a stark warning that the planned gathering could potentially ignite ethnic violence, drawing parallels to the historical May 13 riots of 1969. These pronouncements reflect a heightened sense of grievance and a fear of communal unrest among certain segments of the Malay-Muslim community.
Prime Minister's Warning and Potential Repercussions

The escalating tensions have also drawn a warning from Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. He cautioned that the Malay community might react to the ongoing controversy by organising their own congress. Such a congress, he suggested, could potentially demand that the federal government consider the closure of Chinese vernacular schools. This statement underscores the sensitive nature of the issue, indicating that the opposition to the jawi script policy could trigger reciprocal demands that challenge the existing educational framework and further polarise the nation.

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How is the jawi script teaching policy creating racial tension?

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