MCA will apply to be an intervener if the Federal Court hears a suit to challenge the constitutionality of vernacular schools.

The party’s secretary-general Chong Sin Woon (above), who described MCA as the "bastion of vernacular schools", expected this suit to end the debate on the legal position of vernacular schools once and for all.

"MCA is of the position that such schools are not only constitutional, but also suitable for our plural society,” he said in a statement today.

Chong added that the party had shown, “in its long history, that it is the bastion of vernacular education and (supports) the teaching of the national language in all vernacular schools”.

"We will continue to do so, unlike Pakatan Harapan which has done nothing," he said.

On Oct 23, lawyer Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz had sought a declaration that Parliament had no power to formulate Section 17 and Section 28 of the Education Act 1996.

He argued that doing so was in violation of Article 152(1)(a) of the Federal Constitution, which states: "No person shall be prohibited or prevented from using (otherwise than for official purposes), or from teaching or learning, any other language".

On Nov 4, the Federal Court will decide whether to allow Khairul Azam's suit to proceed.