KUCHING: Non-Muslim Dayak students of Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) Betong and their parents are dismayed by the college’s move to make it compulsory for them to take Arabic (language) subject.
They are also told that they must score a pass in the subject to earn their graduation certificate.
PKR Betong chairman Vernon Aji Kedit said the matter was brought to his attention after the students were told by their lecturers last week about the new requirement.
“This announcement has caused dismay among many non-Muslim Dayak students and their parents, who see this as another step in the slippery slope of Islamisation of a secular Sarawak,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Vernon, who is state PKR information chief, said after he brought up the issue on social media, he was informed that the college then clarified with the students that they had an option to take Mandarin if they did not want to take Arabic.
He added that the contradictory messages to the students were misleading and confusing.
“I, therefore, ask the Education Ministry at the federal level and the state Education Department to clarify on the issue by giving the public a written explanation of what the status is regarding compulsory subjects and languages in all MRSM colleges in Sarawak within two weeks from today.”
Vernon also wanted the relevant authorities to explain what actually happened at MRSM Betong and if it was a unilateral decision of the college authorities to misrepresent to the students that Arabic language was compulsory and tried to impose an optional subject on them.
“Citing the lack of teaching staff to conduct other language classes is not a reasonable excuse, as was proffered by the college when the issue became a hot topic on social media.”
Vernon also viewed that the learning of Arabic language had no practical use for non-Muslim Dayak students in Sarawak.
“I challenge the authorities to show statistical data and proof that the learning of the language has benefited non-Muslim Dayak students academically and economically,” he said.-Borneo Post
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