MCA wants police to open investigations under the Sedition Act against a PAS leader who advocated for an end to vernacular schools.

The Women's Wing chief of the party, Heng Seai Kie (photo, above), said the remarks could cause racial conflict.

"Such views are extremist and contemptuous of the Federal Constitution, which protects the rights and interests of every Malaysian to mother tongue education.

"If such views are to be expanded, it would surely instigate racial conflicts, society fallout and jeopardise national unity," Heng said in a statement today.

She was responding to PAS Muslimat vice-chief Salamiah Mohd Nor, who last Saturday, called for the government to end vernacular schools.

Salamiah said she was unwilling to see Mandarin become a second language for Malaysians.

PAS has distanced itself from her views, with vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar saying it was not the party's stance.

Heng welcomed Samsuri's remarks on the matter.

Separately, MCA's government affairs monitoring committee said numerous studies show that vernacular education is beneficial for children, who learn better in their mother tongue.

It said studies also found that parents get more involved in their children's education when it is in their mother tongue.

"Our confidence in vernacular languages in primary education is not confined only to Chinese vernacular primary education; but also applies to the Indian community and Malay community.