16 January 2020

Press statement by MCA Secretary-General Datuk Chong Sin Woon

MCA has filed an application to intervene in GPMS’ and MAPPIM’s legal suit over the existence of Chinese and Tamil national schools

The MCA has filed an application to intervene in GPMS’ and MAPPIM’s legal suit over the existence and constitutionality of Chinese and Tamil national schools.

In wake of lawyer Khairul Azam’s attempt to have the courts declare vernacular schools in Malaysia unconstitutional, it is most disappointing to see the Association of Peninsular Malaysia Students (GPMS) and the Islamic Educational Development Council (Mappim), file similar applications to nullify Sections 2, 17 and 28 of the Education Act. In response, the MCA has filed an application to intervene in GPMS’ and MAPPIM’s legal suit.

It is even more disheartening to learn that Haniff Khatri Abdulla, personal lawyer to the Prime Minister, is to be their lead counsel.

MCA’s lawyers, Datuk Ben Chan has filed a Notice of Application under Order 18 Rule 6 of the Rules of Court on Tuesday, the 14th of January 2020. The first case management was held today, the 16th of January 2020. At the next case management on the 18th of February 2020, the court will fix the dates of the hearing for MCA’s application for leave to intervene.

It is to be remembered that GPMS and MAPPIM has named the Minister of Education as the First Defendant in their suit, and since the Prime Minister is now also acting Education Minister, Haniff Khatri will now be acting against his own client. This is a situation that is very disturbing to the MCA.

Datuk Chong Sin Woon
MCA Secretary-General

-MCA Online-