De facto Religious Affairs Minister Mujahid Yusof Rawa has called on organisers of a congress to protest the introduction of Jawi lessons in vernacular schools this weekend to postpone their plans.
"This (postponement) is to allow room for dialogue and find a mutual agreement.
"All of us must shoulder the responsibility to come up with an agreement for the interest of the nation," said Mujahid in a statement today.
While Mujahid had referred to an upcoming congress, two such events are scheduled to be held this weekend.
A group calling itself Gabungan Seni Khat Action Team (Sekat) had announced plans to organise a National Jawi Congress this Sunday, one day after Dong Jiao Zong's session to discuss the introduction of Jawi lessons in vernacular schools.
Sekat national secretary Arun Doraisamy had said their congress was organised to pressure the Education Ministry to go back to the drawing board when it comes to the introduction of Jawi lessons as part of a compulsory subject.
Mujahid, who is also Amanah vice-president, urged parties who opposed the move to be more respectful of public sentiments.
"The move to protest (Jawi lessons) through a congress or other means will trigger a negative reaction from its supporters," said Mujahid, adding that the potentially harmful reaction should be taken into consideration in making any decisions.
In making the call, Mujahid also questioned the insistence of certain parties against the move, despite a court ruling that it was not against any provisions of the Federal Constitution.
His remarks today echoed similar concerns raised by various Harapan leaders, including Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.
Mahathir has raised concerns that such an event might court reactions from the Malay community and ultimately, lead to chaos.
Anwar (photo), meanwhile, also urged the parties to cancel the congress and return to dialogues instead.
Previously, Dong Jiao Zong had said its congress on Dec 28 will be held to protest the latest teaching guidelines by the Education Ministry for Jawi script lessons.
Dong Zong Central Committee member Low Chee Chong yesterday told Malaysiakini that there will be no public protests held on the day and the closed-door meeting will only be attended by representatives of Chinese NGOs and not members of the public.
Acknowledging the escalating racial tension following the announcement of the congress on Dec 12, Dong Jiao Zong has since decided to rename the event as "Chinese Organisations Joint Conference".
Low explained the renaming is meant to better represent the exact nature of the event so no one would assume this is an anti-Jawi congress.
Dong Jiao Zong has so far insisted that the schools' board of governors ought to have a say in the decision to implement Jawi script lessons which are slated to begin next year for Standard Four pupils.
'No impunity for incendiary remarks'
Separately, DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang urged authorities to take action against allegedly provocative remarks made in response to Dong Jiao Zong.
Among others, Malaysian Muslim Students Coalition (Gamis) president Saifullah Baiduri yesterday warned that the bloody riots of May 13, 1969, may return as long as Dong Jiao Zong still exists.
"Yesterday, there was (also) a video on social media of a speech allegedly by an ustaz who alleged that the Harapan government has become a communist government and that communists have entered the Malaysian cabinet and government.
"If Saifullah and the ustaz are given immunity and impunity to make such baseless, incendiary and irresponsible statements, promoting hate, distrust, bigotry and intolerance among Malaysians, Malaysia will never succeed as a united, democratic, progressive, prosperous and successful nation...," stressed the Iskandar Puteri MP.
