KUCHING: Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDS Baru) is calling for the federal government to review the decision to implement khat or Jawi calligraphy for Year 4 pupils next year, as it feels the subject has no place in national schools.
Party treasurer-general Sai Malaka in a statement yesterday said PBDS Baru’s stand on the issue mirrors that of those who had suggested for the teaching of khat to be left to religious schools.
“We hope that the decision made by the government will be reviewed because this subject is irrelevant to be taught in national schools, especially for a country that has a plural society,” he said.
Sai also called on the Sarawak government to expedite the push for Sarawak’s education autonomy so that the state can come up with its own education policy that suits Sarawakians.
He also said the implementation of khat will put more financial burden on Dayak parents especially in rural areas, as they would have to spend more to buy the needed stationery for the subject.
“This will particularly affect those who have many children. The cost to buy the necessary stationery will impact those in rural areas, who are mostly farmers with no fixed income.”
Sai, meanwhile, questioned the motive of the federal government in introducing khat, wondering if the move is to woo the hearts of certain voter segments for future elections.
“If that is the purpose, then the objective to unite Malaysians from various cultures and religion will fail,” he said.