Inconsistency and insincerity; judge the following two press statements:
Anwar: Scrap use of English for Science and Maths
Monday, 29 June 2009 08:18am
©The Star
PETALING JAYA: Scrap the policy of teaching Science and Mathematics in English and bring back Bahasa Melayu as the medium of instruction in the education system, said Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He also called for the return of Bahasa Melayu’s status as the supreme language, which includes using it as the medium to teach Science and Maths in national schools and also strengthening its usage in Chinese and Tamil schools.
“This issue has become a controversy for far too long. We consider this policy a betrayal of Bahasa Melayu as our official language,” he told a press conference yesterday.
Anwar, however, conceded that it was important to master English and agreed that there should be constructive steps taken to improve the usage and understanding of the language.
“But how we do it should be decided by educationists and with consideration towards the national education policy.
“This includes not forcing our children to pass English as a compulsory subject in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) as this will result in many students, especially in rural areas, to fail,” added Anwar.
On another matter, Anwar questioned Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s sincerity when announcing the government’s plan to introduce a new category of Public Service Department (PSD) scholarships which would be based purely on merit.
“The last time when I suggested the plan, I was called a Chinese agent and a traitor to the Malays,” he said.
Anwar also lauded PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat’s proposal to have a debate with Najib.
He said an open debate would be the best way to clear up the accusations against the Kelantan Mentri Besar.
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OK now, read this from MI:
KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) continued its attacks today against the government’s decision yesterday to scrap the policy of teaching science and mathematics in English introduced six years ago.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said parents of children in urban national schools should be given the option of learning the two subjects in English because of the existence of better teaching facilities.
“If a sufficient number of parents want to continue in English it should be continued in English,” Lim told a press conference.
He hoped that his recommendation would prevent a confrontation between Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who said yesterday he was saddened by the Cabinet’s decision to scrap the policy introduced during his administration.
Meanwhile, PKR asked the government to immediately scrap the policy.
“We are of the view that the decision falls short of expectation and is a disappointment. It deliberately delays what ought to be implemented early,” said its deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali.
“What is disappointing is that the Cabinet decided that the termination of this unwise policy should take effect only from 2012 and not immediately next year,” he added.
Yesterday Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced the scrapping of the teaching of mathematics and science in English in all primary and secondary schools effective 2012, citing failure to achieve its objectives as intended.
But Muhyiddin, who is also the education minister, said the government would also implement several new measures to improve the teaching of English in schools in an attempt to improve proficiency in the language.
andyyong
That is what we call politics ma! Knowing that Chinese/Indians have been smokecreened, Anwar is now trying to garner support of the Malays particularly the rural ones – so judge it ourselves whether he is for non-racial approach.
Anwar is an actor, Mahathir cannot tahan all his policies being scrapped, BN govt is quick to implement without considering the consequence – just like the NS, projects etc.
andyksyong,
It’s a chronic concern wth politicians nowadays putting self, sectoral and political interest first while serving the nation, this isn’t healthy to the system although the government do not have 2/3 majority.
Most parents or citizens who objected the change are fr English-speaking background. They only know that English is a global language without considering the repercussion of it. Although govt is also to blame when implementing such policy without adequate resources and capability, the last 6 years has clearly proven most students did not actually improve their English skills fr the 2 subjects, this is expecially so in the rural and states outside of KL, S’gor and Penang.
There are also many individuals, politicians, NGOs and activists against the idea of using English, although most of have their own specific selfish agenda and motive of saying so. Countries like France, Germany, China, Hong Kong, Japan and Korea is so developed in every sectors particularly science, engineering and medicine – they do not even learn in English! It is the attitude. Forget about Mahathir but a serious consideration is required whether the compensation of pumping in more money to bring and train English teacher will be a good idea or not. After all Form 6 students still use it as well as private or international schools. We need to be rational and pragmatic.
About PR leaders slapping their own faces, forget about these politicians who are bunch of selfish and insincere opportunists, just like some in BN too.
It is never easy to please everyone…we need politcians who r honest and sincere to perform and serve the people, regardless of BN or PR.
two-faced, hypocrites, and lots more…i’m getting sick of them
My daughter is less than 2 years old and she can understand both English and Japanese, and later will introduce Malay, Mandarin and Cantonese.
http://daddyparentingtips.blogspot.com/2009/07/tip-161-reading-in-both-languages.html
I can’t see why we cannot take 1 step forward to integrate the BM textbooks few years back with the current English science and maths text books. Its a lot of effort, but why move backward instead of forward. We can allow students to use either English or BM to answer in the exams as long as the maths and science principles are correct.
Some good will surely come out of the dialectics at work between both languages instead of choosing either one. We need new advancements. We need Malaysia Boleh. Not some power struggle between languages.
When will Malaysia advance and not hold on to race and language as stumbling blocks but embrace our differences as advantages?
nice post
Dont use our children as guinea pigs! Govt should prepare to plan and implement with readiness and qualification. Two school of thoughts but majority in urban will of course support English, after all we already started and is only in Science/Maths, shld keep improving it not reversing.
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