KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Jerlun MP Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir is standing firm by his statement that vernacular schools in their present format should be closed and integrated into the national schools system. He said he would not retract the statement as what he suggested was not to close down vernacular schools but to change the current system into a single education system to promote unity.

"I will not retract. Why should I? Forget it. They (the opposition) can try. Once I say something, I don't understand how I can retract it," he said at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

Mukhriz's statement had drawn a storm of protests from both Barisan Nasional and opposition leaders. The opposition had labelled his comments as seditious.

Mukhriz, who is in a three-cornered fight for the Umno Youth chief post, took the opposition to task.

"The opposition sees sedition in every statement we make. I talked about unity, so how could that be seditious?

"After all, they too talk about the same thing but I don't see them suggesting or recommending any real solution.

"It is fine to complain about it, but what do you do next? I am suggesting something that could be debated, looked into thoroughly and maybe implemented in stages.

"I don't have all the answers but perhaps we could sit and talk about it," he said, adding that unity had to start from schools.

He said there were no similarities between his comments and that of former Sabah BN member of parliament Mark Koding, who was charged with sedition after being found guilty of calling for the closure of vernacular schools in chamber in October 1978.

"He said vernacular schools should be closed. I did not say that yesterday (Monday) and neither am I saying that today (Tuesday).

"I only said the system should be one. The last thing I want is the closure of schools or questioning the rights of different races to use their mother tongues."