DAP welcomes outcome of meeting between Mahathir and the ACCCIM and seven major Federations of Clans and Associations which have seen a "turn of opportunity" to resolve the issue of using English to teach mathematics and science not only in a non-confrontational manner but putting top-most priority to educational considerations

(Penang, Tuesday): DAP welcomes the  outcome of the meeting between the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad  and the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) and seven major Federations of Clans and Associations which have seen a “turn of opportunity” to resolve the issue of using English to teach mathematics and science not only in a non-confrontational manner but putting top-most priority to educational considerations. 

The Cabinet should give serious consideration at its meeting tomorrow to resolve the controversy by adopting the two-point position of the ACCCIM and the Federations of Hokkien, Kwang Tung, Hakka, Hainan, Teochew, Kwangsi and San Kiang Associations of Malaysia, viz: 

• Full support for government efforts  to improve the standard of English, including the proposal to make English a compulsory subject in schools and increasing the time allocated for its teaching; 
• Use of English to teach Science and Mathematics in secondary schools but retention of the mother-tongue for teaching the two subjects in the Chinese primary schools.

The more accommodating attitude shown by Mahathir on this issue when he said that the Government had yet to make a final decision on the matter and would hear other views and give them due consideration is most welcome. 

It represents a turn for the better for the country, drawing back from a completely unnecessary and avoidable confrontation  and crisis, especially when there is no disagreement on the urgent need to raise the proficiency of English, mathematics and science in schools and universities to prepare Malaysia to face the challenges of globalization, liberalization and information and communications technology. 

If the Cabinet is unable to take a final decision on the issue tomorrow, then Parliament when it reconvenes on Monday should consider adopting a resolution incorporating the two points presented by the ACCCIM and the Federations of Clans and Associations as a basis not only to resolve the controversy over the use of English to teach mathematics and science, but be the basis for  a new national consensus to make the national education system more relevant to the needs of the times. 

The statement by Mahathir that Chinese educationists should recognize that they are Malaysians, that the education system of China cannot be reproduced here and “that this is Malaysia, not China, Taiwan or Singapore” is most disconcerting, misplaced and unfortunate. 

This is because neither the Chinese educationists in the country nor the Malaysian Chinese who support Chinese mother-tongue education had ever tried to reproduce the education system of China in Malaysia or had ever thought of themselves otherwise as 100 per cent loyal and patriotic Malaysians who have no other homeland apart from Malaysia. 

The question of trying to duplicate the education system of China in Malaysia should never have been raised, as for the past 45 years, all schools in the country, whether national, Chinese or Tamil primary schools, had conformed to the national education policy and a national common syllabus. 

The landmark Razak Education Report 1956 described a syllabus common to all schools in the Federation as the “crucial requirement” of a national education policy. It said: 

“It is an essential element in the development of an united Malayan nation. It is the key which will unlock the gates hitherto standing locked and barred against the establishment of an educational system acceptable to the people of Malaya as a whole, a common syllabus…  

“Once all schools are working to a common content syllabus, irrespective of the language medium of instruction, we consider the country will have taken the most important step towards establishing a national system of education which will satisfy the needs of the people and promote their cultural, social, economic and political development as a nation.”

Why should Mahathir raise the non-existing issue of the inappropriateness of reproducing the education system of China in Malaysia when the Malaysian  Chinese primary schools have conformed to the national common syllabus introduced by the Razak Report for the past 45 years? 

What is doubly unfortunate with Mahathir’s remark is that it will create the false impression among some Malaysians, particularly Malays, that there are Malaysian Chinese out to create a “little China” – a term recently used by Mahathir – especially with today’s  front-page headline in  Utusan Malaysia: “Cina perlu terima hakikat – PM: Sekolah di Malaysia tidak boleh disamakan dengan di China”.  

I cannot understand how having just celebrated the 45^th National Day,  Mahathir could have the notion that Chinese educationists or Malaysians who support Chinese mother-tongue education are harbouring thoughts to reproduce the education system of China in Malaysia – and this must be seen as one of the greatest failures of the Chinese-based parties in the Barisan Nasional, whether MCA, Gerakan, SUPP, SAPP or LDP in their inability  to convey to UMNO leaders in a truthful and courageous fashion the aspirations of the Malaysian Chinese in the country. 

The MCA, Gerakan and SUPP Ministers should take special pains at the Cabinet meeting tomorrow to eliminate any notion that there are Chinese educationists or Malaysian Chinese who are trying to duplicate the education system of China in Malaysia – that dissent or disagreement with the proposal to use English to teach mathematics and science from Std. One in primary school has nothing to do with disloyalty or lack of patriotism whatsoever.

(3/9/2002)