PUTRAJAYA, Jan 8 (Sin Chew Daily) — The dialogue between minister in the prime minister's department (national unity and social well-being) Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy and 32 non-government organisations in the country over the introduction of Jawi calligraphy at vernacular schools yesterday, issued a five-point declaration including urging all quarters to stop issuing intimidating remarks on the issue.

Seni Khat Action Team (SEKAT) secretary Arun Doraisamy said after the dialogue he regretted that Dong Jiao Zong was absent from the dialogue.

He said the dialogue offered an opportunity for Dong Jiao Zong to explain its position to Malay NGOs, which had a negative “communist, chauvinistic and racist” impression of the Chinese educational body.

“There were 15 Malay organisations at the dialogue. We tried to persuade them.

“These Malay organisations told us 99% of the information they received had been from the social media, some heavily distorted.

“When we talk face-to-face, there is a good chance we may convince them.”