“As a candidate vying for a seat in Kuala Kubu Baharu, which hosts five SJKCs and two SJKTs, it is imperative that he (Khairul Azhari Saut) state his position on the existence of vernacular schools.

“Does he share the view of his PAS comrades, or does he align with the opinion of a Bersatu MP who advocates their abolition?

“We eagerly await Khairul’s response,” she said, in apparent reference to Bersatu youth chief and Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.

Kok also said she was disheartened by Fadhli’s Facebook post, which she said was malicious and insinuated that DAP candidate Pang Sock Tao’s SPM results were tied to her attendance at a vernacular school.

“While he issued a half-hearted apology, he still chose to subtly encourage the public to exploit the issue of vernacular schools for political gain during the election campaign,” she said, describing this as a divisive and deeply racist tactic.

Yesterday, Fadhli “apologised” for challenging Pang to reveal her SPM results, but said he hoped the “issue” of her coming from a vernacular school would continue during the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election campaign.

Fadhli also said he was sorry for “troubling” Pang by making her produce her results in the SPM and UPSR examinations, both of which she had scored straight As in.