‘In the end, it is the future generations of Malaysians who will lose out in the international arena if science and maths are taught in Bahasa Malaysia.'

On Keep English for maths and science

Dr Syed Alwi Ahmad: As an on-looking Singaporean Malay, I find the rejection in Malaysia of the teaching maths and science in English to be somewhat strange.

Firstly, in today's globalised world, the international language of choice for science and technology is most certainly English.

There are millions of scientific books and journals written in English. Dewan Bahasa cannot possibly translate this vast scientific literature into Malay.

Therefore, if Malaysians fail to have an adequate command of the English language - they will have problems in the transfer of technology.

Secondly, some people have argued that nations like Japan, China and some European countries teach in their native tongue. But these nations are the advanced nations.

They are scientific powerhouses and are technologically advanced. They can afford to teach science and maths in their mother tongue. Can the same be said of Malaysia? Most definitely not.

Malaysia is a Third World country with very little indigenous technology. Comparing Malaysia to Japan is naive and foolish.

How many world-class scientists are there from Malaysia? How many reputable publications are produced by Malaysian scientists annually?

In the end, it is the future generations of Malaysians who will lose out in the international arena if science and maths are taught in Bahasa Malaysia.

High-technology investments will relocate elsewhere. Malaysia will stagnate. The proof of my views lie in the success story of Singapore which has chosen English in the teaching of science and maths in her schools.

LT Seet: The various Tamil and Chinese language schools can continue.

However, the government should set up schools where all subjects are taught in English and where there are extra language classes for the students' own mother tongues.

This will be similar to the school system which I graduated from back in 1972 when I did my ‘A'-level examinations.

The parents can then decide which school they want to send their children to.

The parents will know what is best for their children and should not be forced to accept any educational system.

In time, after a few years, the schools that do not have a minimum student intake to meet their operational costs will naturally close down while those schools with the healthy student intake will survive.

Therefore, let the parents decide what is best for their children's education.

AJ: I am all for the teaching of science and mathematics in English - not because students can enhance their grasp of the English language but to also equip them with more resources since most of the books on these two subjects are written and published in English.

But I totally disagree that one can master English just by learning science and mathematics in English.

I do not intend to provide examples as many have commented with statistical reports on this issue as well as the pros and the cons.

Saying same thing many times isn't going to help at all. I would just like to remind myself and readers here that even if we are good in the English language, that does not mean we are good in science and mathematics.

Think carefully before we write. How many of us here who are fluent in English are good in science (physics, chemistry, biology as taught in secondary school) or mathematics?

Either it is our own initiative or we speak the language at home.

Certainly our written and spoken English - or rather the skill that we have obtained today - did not result from the teaching of science and mathematics in English.

Read more, learn and understand the language and practise it. Practice makes perfect.

On Analysts sceptical over stimulus

V Murugeswaran: I welcome the second stimulus package which was tabled by Najib Abdul Razak.

I noticed that the government allocated a huge sum to improve the existing condition of public infrastructures.

However, it is uncertain whether the allocation under ‘improving public infrastructures' is inclusive of allocations to upgrade the public infrastructures into an accessible one according to Malaysian Standard MS 1183 and MS 1184 and other relevant legislation.

Meanwhile, in terms of employment, the said stimulus package will create 163,000 job opportunities in various sectors.

I am of the opinion that it is important to ensure that the allocations made to improve public infrastructures are utilised in a best way ie, improving public amenities into an accessible ones.

An accessible environment and transportation system plays a pivotal role in creating an independent and productive disabled community.

The 163,000 new job opportunities in various sectors will not be feasible for the disabled community if the built environment and public transportation are not made accessible.

The disabled community should also be allowed to contribute to the economic growth of the country in this difficult period - not forgetting the statistic that we comprise 10% of the population of this country. ( The writer is president, Damai Disabled Persons Association )

Micheal: Wow! RM60 billion for the crisis, much more than the RM50 billion that I thought! Pause...it looks more like a national budget on a smaller scale than a financial crisis rescue package.

The real money involved in the crisis for the rakyat is actually about RM20 billion (which is good if it can be delivered as soon as possible and not be spread out over two years).

The remaining RM40 billion is irrelevant in terms of overcoming the ailing economy, really. The RM60 billion is only a ‘headline gimmick'.

It will not bring our country out of recession if it is dissected and analysed carefully.

As I had mentioned earlier,we are definitely in recession now and chances of a second half recovery are very slim.

The first stimulus package was announced ages ago and is still in the pockets of certain people. It really makes us wonder about the timing and implementation of this second package.

Another issue is the so-called equity investment. I hope the RM10 billion will not be used to prop up the stock market.

Our money and our savings will depreciate in value should the KLCI fall below 700 points later this year - something which is likely given the current state of the economy.

The rakyat have been losing a lot of their money in the stock market due to poor investment strategies employed by institutions like the EPF.

A paper loss is still a loss no matter how you look at it. How much more money do we need to lose?

The real challenge is whether the RM20 billion mentioned above can be executed fairly and promptly.

If successful, it would at least lessen the burden on the rakyat even if it cannot take the country out of the woods.

Concerned Industry Man: The allocation of RM2.4 billion for the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to improve telecommunication infrastructure in this second stimulus budget is very strange and raises many questions.

The MCMC is mainly the regulator of communications services. But the MCMC can be said to be involved in improving the telecommunications infrastructure by virtue of it implementing the Universal Service Provision (USP) programme.

This programme, which is followed by other countries, brings telecommunications services to areas that are not normally covered by commercial operators.

These are usually rural areas where it is not economically viable to bring in mobile phone, telephone or internet services.

The MCMC has already been carrying out USP programmes for years. It has brought phone services to the interior areas in Sarawak for example.

However, the funding for the USP programme is raised through mandatory contributions by communications companies.

Communications companies who fall under a particular criteria have to contribute a certain percentage of their revenue to the USP fund yearly.

Communications companies are very profitable and because of this, the USP fund is very rich. It should have more than a RM1 billion and probably closes to RM2 billion in it.

The figure could easily be verified by referring to the MCMC's annual report. Why then is more money being allocated to MCMC to do what it can do using existing USP funds?

If the intention is to improve telecommunication infrastructure outside the USP areas, that job belongs to commercial operators which the MCMC regulates.

It would be strange if the MCMC decides to step into a business that it regulates. A thorough explanation of where this new allocation is headed to is necessary.

On Assets to be made public on Friday

Yuvan:

This good and wise decision was long overdue. I must congratulate the current Selangor state government for this initiative.

I hope the information provided will be complete and show the true financial standing of the exco members.

It is also important that the information be updated on a regular basis, at least annually, if not every six months.

This move by the Selangor government should be emulated by all the other state governments and also by all ministers and deputy ministers in the federal government.

In fact, the list should also disclose the assets held in the name of the spouses and/or immediate family members (ie, children and parents) of the excos and ministers.

One of the core principles of good governance is to be transparent and truthful.

After all, the more transparent the politicians and government are in this matter, they can surely expect more support from the people.

No one needs to be afraid of anyone or anything as long as one acquires wealth through legal means and proper channels.

Bosco: The Selangor state exco members have decided to reveal their assets online.

It must be noted that it was the BN government that first proposed a similar move after the 2004 general elections but some how or the other the train did not go beyond the shuttling yard.

If Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is serious, he must be the first to declare his assets and reveal them online, and thereafter issue an order that all his subordinates in the BN government and BN state excos declare and reveal their assets online.

This revelation of the assets online should be done within one week after the Selangor state exco's revelation.

This revelation will allow the people to evaluate the BN and PR candidates at the forthcoming three by-elections.

After all, it was the BN government that made a big hoo-ha about the Multimedia Super Corridor. So this suggestion about the revelation of their assets online should never be a tall order.

On AG, IGP 'cleared' in black-eye case

Meng Yee: It is no surprise to many that the IGP and the AG have been found to be clean and in fact I knew the result even before they started investigating.

The IGP and AG have now been found to be cleared of any wrongdoing. The MACC has once again proven themselves to be an ‘efficient' outfit having completed the case in two months.

When will Umno and this BN government wake up to realise that we, the rakyat , are no more fools? There is as much corruption in Umno as there is garbage in a dump site.

Using the MACC to ‘clear' politicians and government servants of any wrongdoing for political purposes is damaging the very fabric of our society and the future of Malaysia.

If we cannot trust the police or law-keepers to safeguard the integrity of Malaysian civil servants and politicians, then where can we, as citizens, go to find justice and fair play?

Many have decided to find this in a foreign land where although immigrants, they receive justice and fair play in a civil society where the rule of law exists and is respected.

It is sad that this continues to occur. The latest allegations which are so damaging for the nation are that of a French newspaper revealing corruption dealings at the highest level of our government in connection with the purchase of military submarines from France.

Where is the MACC in all this? Why are they not quick to absolve our future prime minister and his buddies of any wrongdoing?

Why doesn't the government of Malaysia sue the pants of this French newspaper?

Are they afraid to find out that the rest of the world does not play by the same corrupt rules we have in Malaysia? Do the ends really justify the means?

Is it worth tearing our country into bits taking along with it the sacred constitution in the name of continued power and Umno dominance? Where will it all end?

Maniam Sankar: Minister Nazri now says three judges did not see any conspiracy by the IGP and the AG on Anwar's case.

The minister must know that justice should be seen to be done and his delayed and bare statement surely does not pass this test.

Can the judges please stand up and refute Anwar's allegations specifically please? If Anwar is lying for political purposes, why not use the good judges to show him up?

And can the minister please now confirm if the same or other judges are not investigating the Kugan's case findings too please?

We surely don't want see a similar ‘treatment' for the perpetrators of this heinous deed on the poor soul.

If we wait for Nazri's comment, at his leisure, on Kugan's case, his murderers may commit more crimes. We could all be at risk from the killers. Let us all see justice being done. Quickly.

On The best prime minister the country never had

Hopeful Malaysian: I truly agree with the above letter. It was well-rationalised and showed what our nation would be like had Ku Li become the PM in 1986. Malaysia would be significantly different from what it is today.

We would very likely see a balance in development instead of only first-class infrastructure grossly lacking in human capital development.

Just look at our young graduates today, they are just not marketable. Our Vision 2020 is failing. Besides that, just look at the current events going on today.

My conclusion is that we are deteriorating by the day while other developing countries are progressing.

With Ku Li, I believe all is not lost. He should make the wisest decision and attempt to remove ‘oil from water' and leave Umno to cling onto its corrupted ways.

One potential hope is to see Ku Li and his followers teaming up with Anwar and other Pakatan Rakyat leaders to form the next government.

This is our only hope to take Malaysia to the progressive forefront again. We do not see much positive development under BN but only continuity in corruption, rampage and the plundering of the nation's wealth.

We have a choice of two potential credible PMs and if a compromise can be forged, both can form a good team to take Malaysia down the right path again.

Ku Li should take this opportunity.

On Cops: No links between bullets and Umno Youth

MC Liew: The police funded by Malaysian taxpayers have declared ‘no links between bullets sent to Karpal and Umno Youth'

On what basis the police made such a bold declaration is never declared.

Obviously, whoever had sent the bullets to Karpal had more cunning to hide his link with the bullets than to leave any clue for the Malaysian police.

As Umno Youth had made many threats against Karpal, it is quite plausible for him to suspect one or more from the movement to be linked with the bullets.

If the movement maintains it has no link at all with the bullets, then just make a public declaration to that extent.

To harass a wheelchair-bound man with arrogant demands for proof of his justified suspicion that the bullets were linked to those who had cried for his head is grossly unfair.