I'm one of some 60,000 Malays who have sent my child to a Chinese primary school. Let me say something on the language issue.

I made the decision because I believe that Chinese schools are good in maths and discipline. There is nothing wrong at all with a Chinese school. Teachers are very dedicated and professional. They treat my kid just like other kids. I am satisfied with it.

I am very proud of my child who is now in Standard 6. Compared to other Malay boys and girls, my child speaks three languages and is better in mathematics. He knows much more about the world than his relatives of the same age.

The Chinese school has never tried to change my child's religion. On the contrary, through Chinese reading materials, he knows that there are many more Muslims in China than in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Thus, his and our family's notion of Ummah (universal Islamic community) is larger than Malay Muslims who do not understand the Chinese-language. Teachers and Chinese students of Chinese schools I meet often are good in Bahasa Malaysia.

Some of them are even better than the Westernised Malays. So, let us appreciate each other. Do not politicise language anymore. All languages are gift from Allah S.A.W to all mankind.

And that is why in Kelantan and Terengganu, the PAS governments respect Chinese and Tamil schools and in fact help them to develop.

Good Muslims should reject Umno's assabiyah (ethnic chauvinism). We must learn to respect and appreciate all human beings, languages and culture.

We must not cause fear and anger to others. Respect is earned, not acquired by threats or insults.

Zakaria Othman
Kelana Jaya