The Hot English Issue

by WisdomMountain | March 9, 2009 at 12:14 pm

501 views | 16 Recommendations | 4 comments

The issue over the use of English in teaching science and mathematics

in Malaysian schools has brewed up hot and heated over the weekend.

Riot police fired tear gas to break up a 5,000 people mass street protest in Kuala Lumpur over this hot English issue on Saturday(March 8,2009).

Yesterday(March 9,2009) leaders of the Malay patriots,including Malaysia's national literary laureate Datuk A.Samad Said, denied they were being used by politicians to stir up the hot controversy.

The mass protest,organised by the Movement to abolish English in teaching science and mathematics(GMP),turned ugly as protestors and riot police clashed before Datuk Samad handed a memorandum to representative of the King of Malaysia at the National Palace gates.

The memorandum wants the Malaysian government to abolish the use of English in the teaching of science and mathematics to assure the future of Bahasa Melayu, the national language.

The Federation of national writers' associations (Gapena) chief Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Ismail Hussein stresses that Gapena is consistent in its stance because of English negative impact on the development of Bahasa Melayu.

He says:"The Gapena way to voice the stance is through intellectual channel and not via illegal street demonstration.

"This is not our way. We are not involved in yesterday's protest.

However, Ismail points out Gapena wants the teaching of science and mathematics in English to be abolished immediately claiming it has resulted in more disadvantages than advantages.

"We are not against the use of English.The usage should be stepped up especially among pupils in rural areas but not in this way.

"Instead,the English language subject should be upgraded further.Gapena is sure that with qualified teachers, the government effort to ensure our pupils are able to master the english language would be achieved," he adds.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein points out that certain political leaders are exploiting the English language issue.

Hishammuddin, who is UMNO Youth chief,denies there are moves to topple him at the forthcoming UMNO annual general meeting and election late this month.

The decision to teach science and mathematics in English is a collective cabinet decision and not the ministry's sole act.

The current education policy review would be done in two and a half months.

The Minister urges the public to keep cool and not be swayed by emotion or take to the street.

Asked whether Saturday's mass protest would affect his image in the UMNO vice-presidential contest, Hishammuddin views it as an issue being used by certain vested political interests.

"What is shouldered(as Education Minister) is a trust and responsibilty that is more than self-interest," he points out.

"I must make a good decision for the best interest of our children."

The Minister notes that amid the protest, there are also groups in support of the policy to use English in teaching science and mathematics.

Appealing for time and patience, he adds:"The duty of the Education Ministry is to undertake an indepth review before making the necessary recommendation.

"Two and a half months more is not that long to determine the direction involving millions of children and thousands of teachers and schools."

Meanwhile, Wanita UMNO chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz criticized the street protest.

She says such action would only shame Malaysia which is known for her high culture and vision in whatever steps she takes.

"If this is the way, we will not achieve advanced nation status in the year 2020," she stresses.

"If achieved also, it would be from the physical aspect. The people's mindset would still be at the developing nation level."

The UMNO Women wing chief urges the government to strengthen the teaching of English language right from the basic stage upwards, from pre-school.

"We must look at what parents need. There are two viewpoints now for the government to consider carefully.

"There is one view that says the English language should be strengthened so as to master all subjects.

"And the other view says only teach mathematics and science in English for it is good.

"Basically, I like the first view, that is, to emphasize the English language so that we use it not only for mathematics and science but also for other subjects as well."

Better mastery of the English language,stresses Rafidah, is vital for mastery of many subjects and assimilation of knowledge from the internet.

Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat says that decision of the English usage issue would be made by the Malaysian cabinet.

MCA wants science and mathematics to be taught at the primary school level in the pupils' mother tongue.

English could be used in the secondary school level onwards.

Director-General of Education Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom believes the English language issue should not be politicized as it could jeopardize a sensible national education system in Malaysia.

He hopes the issue should be handed to the Education Ministry and Malaysian Cabinet for decision-making.

"Hishammuddin will bring this matter up to cabinet for lengthy discussion before a final decision is made,"he assures.

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mtammas

at 13:28 on March 9th, 2009

I appreciate reading about this controversy.

I've always considered mathematics to be its own language.

English is such a dominant language and an asset to speak and understand. But the ability of a country to teach in its own language is important, too, for culture and historical continuity.

Please continue to watch this story and bring updates to NowPublic.

Rachel Nixon

at 13:37 on March 9th, 2009

Thanks for posting this story. I agree with mtammas in that English can be a very important language to have mastered especially in view of enhancing one's prospects, though I respect also the need to reinforce a country's culture.

I appreciate that this is an important issue but am surprised the protest turned violent.

WisdomMountain

at 14:08 on March 9th, 2009

Thanks mtammas and Rachel Nixon for your kind and constructive comments.
I agree with mtammas that mathematics has its own language - quite difficult in the beginning to grasp but very special and beautiful once one has got the hang of it.
It has the simple lucid beauty minus any adornment.
English is now an international lingua franca. It is essential for global networking,communication and commerce.
Really one needs to master it to get on in life and the world today.
The organizers of GMP and their supporters should broaden their thinking and understanding.
I believe what is needed is an intelligent and sensible balance between promoting English and its mastery, as suggested by Rafidah Aziz and the preservation of one's mother tongue, culture and identity as pointed out by A.Samad Said.
Rational discussion and decision-making to prepare the young with essential English language mastery should be stepped up by the Education Ministry.
Hopefully, the Education Minister and others in the Malaysian cabinet are wise and strong enough to resist and insist on what is best for the children today and leaders of tomorrow in Malaysia.
Anyhow,I will update on this hot issue as it develops further.
Thanks so much once again for your kind words.See you!

Roy C

at 15:27 on March 9th, 2009

All hybridizations of culture erode the primary identity and cause stress to the most traditional part of the culture.

Teach the science courses bi-lingually. That way it preserves the language and allow those who will need to use English as the international language of science to be prepared.