Call on Mahathir not to clamp down on media and democratic space for full debate on the educational merits and demerits of the use of English to teach mathematics and science in primary schools from Std One

(Bentong, Sunday): The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad said in Ipoh yesterday that the issue of the use of English in the teaching of mathematics and science should not be politicised as it is not an element of politics but relates to a language for the acquisition of knowledge.

I fully agree that this is a serious educational issue and I call on him not to clamp down on media and democratic space for full debate on the educational merits and demerits of the use of English to teach mathematics and science in primary schools from Std. One, whether for national, Chinese or Tamil primary schools.

Educational research on bilingual education worldwide in the past three decades have shown that using a second language as a medium of instruction from too early stages can impede the development of thinking skills of children  resulting in low achievements in mathematics, science and languages.

Is the Prime Minister prepared to allow a full public debate on the educational merits and demerits of the use of English to teach mathematics and science in primary schools from Std. One, with the Education Ministry   taking a full part by producing  educational studies, surveys and supporting grounds for such a move?

The warning given by the Prime Minister to “certain newspapers” which had allegedly “fanning racial sentiments to the extent of creating unrest” over the issue is most unfortunate, as it is not only untrue but would have the effect of shutting out open and free discussion on the educational merits of the proposal.

Mahathir’s open attack in naming Jiao Zong adviser Sim Moh Yee as  leading “extremists”  to provoke  the Chinese community “by saying that the proposal was a prelude to the Government closing down Chinese schools or turning them into national schools”, and even categorizing Sim in the group of people who had wanted to create a “Little China” or a province of China  in the past is most deplorable and irresponsible and I call on MCA, Gerakan and SUPP Ministers and leaders to publicly  defend Sim’s patriotic contributions to Chinese education as an integral part of Malaysian education, the Chinese community as part of Malaysian society and the Malaysian nation in his entire public life.

Before the 1999 general election, Mahathir and other  UMNO leaders praised Chinese education and Chinese educationists for their great contribution to nation-building and manpower education, and Sim was even honoured by the Yang di Pertuan Agong for his contribution to education and nation building. 

Why have Sim and the Dong Jiao Zong leaders suddenly become “anti-national” and disloyal elements after the 1999 general election, becoming the target of UMNO and UMNO Youth attacks on the eve of the 43^rd National Day two years ago over the Suqiu issue and now again over the use of English to teach mathematics and science in primary schools? 

Why are  some UMNO and UMNO Youth leaders trying to  manufacture  “a gathering storm” in the Malaysian political scene, reminiscent of  the scenario before the 43^rd National Day two years ago or before the Operation Lalang mass arrests 15 years ago in 1987? 

Malaysia cannot afford another national crisis like the Operation Lalang crackdown on democracy and human rights – as the immediate casualty will be Malaysia’s economic recovery resulting from a further erosion of  Malaysia’s international competitiveness already in a  critical stage in a changed global and regional context following China’s entry into the WTO,  outdistancing South East Asia as the magnet for foreign direct investments. 

Furthermore, there is simply no justification for the engineering  another artificial national crisis for  another Operation Lalang mass arrests over the issue of the use of English to teach mathematics and science in primary schools – which has  raised the legitimate concerns about its educational merits among parents  and citizens of all races, Malay, Chinese and Indian and its  educational and nation-building effects on the new generation of young Malaysians. 

Let Malaysia show the world that Malaysian nation-building on the eve of the 45^th National Day is not so fragile and that Malaysians  have the maturity to debate and decide on  issues on how to enhance Malaysia’s international competitiveness and educational questions  like the use of English to teach mathematics and science in primary schools from Std.One without plunging the country into a new national crisis of inter and intra-ethnic tensions.

(11/8/2002)