FREE YOURSAY 'I hope for once we should all be honest with our answer - an answer not based on political correctness, parochialism, expediency and personal interests.'

PPSMI is unconstitutional, says law expert

Loo Soon Fatt: Prof Abdul Aziz Bari, let's be clear on this: nobody is against the national language. It had been made a compulsory subject and all students must obtain at least a pass to get a full certificate in all national school examinations.

Our students must be proficient in English if we want our new generation to compete in the globalised world where the universal language is English. What's the big fuss if our students are good in both languages?

In fact, the more languages they know, the better. Our leaders must be pragmatic and far sighted if our country want to prosper. We must produce world champions instead of ‘jaguh kampong' (village champion).

David Dass: What we are advocating is bilingualism. We must recognise the importance of English as the language that gives us immediate and global access to knowledge and information as it develops.

We should avoid elitism that allows those with means to enjoy the advantages that English language proficiency gives and condemns the poor to all the limitations that a monolingual culture inflicts.

We must accept that without an environment for the use of English, there will be no motivation to learn the language. Bilingualism with English being one of the languages and Malay the other, will ensure that our children and grandchildren will be able to face the future with confidence. Malay will still be the national language.

We should also not pretend ignorance of the use and importance of English in the private sector and amongst the top civil servants. We should not also pretend ignorance of the extensive use of English in our universities.

I understand the position taken by Aziz Bari - both the emotional and the constitutional. It is uncomfortable taking the position that our national language is not good enough for all purposes.

But we have to be objective and unemotional about the issue. English is the global language. More research is conducted and published in the English language than in any other language. There are more books published in the English language than any other language.

Our nation - whether we like it or not - has been constructed in its colonial and post-independence phase on traditions adopted and adapted from England.

Underpinning these traditions are a whole corpus of literature, reported publications and a continuing dialogue which commenced in ancient Greece which we need to tap into to feed and sustain our society.

For instance, it would not be possible to train a lawyer or even to be a lawyer without English language proficiency. After all, our national and university libraries are stocked with English books.

Fairplayer: David Dass, I agree with you. You have expressed well. What is wrong with doing Maths and Science in English or any language for that matter? Must we always require the constitution when it comes to common sense and freedom of choice where education is concerned?

This time I have to disagree with Prof Aziz. Didn't we see a general improvement in Maths and Science results in UPSR, PMR and SPM under PPSMI? Why the fault-finding if students are grasping and coping well in the nine years of PPSMI? If PPSMI had been a complete flop, I, for one, would have called for its abolition.

As a Sarawakian, I can also quote the constitution in the 18-point agreement - Point 2c, where it says, "English should be an official language of Borneo (Sarawak & Sabah) for all purposes, State or Federal, without limitation of time."

Note also Point 15 where education is concerned. Point 15 states that, "The existing educational system of Borneo (Sarawak & Sabah) should be maintained and for this reason it should be under state control."

Please go figure yourself the interpretation of this point. Sarawak schools were the last to be converted to BM medium. Who was responsible for this foolish shift, I wonder?

Senior Citizen: Education is not something you can play ‘wayang kulit' (shadow puppetry), with, which our BN government has been toying around since independence. Let people decide what they want.

If a parent feels they prefer the English medium, then so be it. Let there be English-medium schools. Even in the English-medium schools, Bahasa Malaysia can be made a compulsory subject. Nobody is being anti-national or unpatriotic just because they want to learn English.

Cala: I used to hold Prof Abdul Aziz in high esteem until he came out saying that teaching Maths and Science in English is unconstitutional.

I propose that the debate on this ‘policy matter' be discussed at three levels: i) the constitutional level; ii) the organisational level; and iii) the operational level.

First, at the constitutional level, a law is not something cast in stone. Nothing in the constitution forbids the use of other languages in schools.

Second, all laws are man-made and that is what the legislature should be doing. Laws may be enacted, amended or simply repealed. The masters are the people.

Third, at the operational level, in this case the schools, they take instructions from higher level (the Education Department). Of course, the schools are not operating in a vacuum, they run according to the feedback of the parents, and hence the Parent Action Group for Education (Page).

Prof Abdul Aziz erred in conferring on the word ‘official' an over-blown image of extraordinary power. While Bahasa Malaysia is the official language, surely it does not preclude English from being taught in schools for the sake of progress, economic growth, and economic development.

How can one explain the illogical choice of the regime by not making this country more competitive? To be honest, I have been searching for the same answers. Now, I think I am coming nearer to find them.

Malaysia is involved in problems associated with ethnic relations, ethnic conflict, and therefore it has not been able to achieve ‘social cohesion', which is the building block of a united country.

As of now, the majority is squabbling with the minorities over nation-building and a lot of energy is spent on resources distribution, not resources production.

From the perspective of the majority, they will feel comfortable only if the ‘national character' resembles their ethnicity, culture and cravings. To allow a more heterogeneity in the society is to challenge their grip over the rein.

In short, we are far from being in the stage of nation-building.

Dark Knight: Aziz Bari, while most Malaysians will recognise you as an expert in constitutional law, I beg to differ on your interpretation of ‘official business'.

Such business is the business of the government in all its ‘official' undertakings at home directed at Malaysians, including official communications with schools. However, as a matter of expediency and necessity, even the PM and other officials use English every now and then, depending on the occasion and the target audience at home.

Going by your interpretation, vernacular schools and the use of mother tongue other than Bahasa Malaysia is outlawed by the constitution. You have taken a simplistic view of the constitution, and it does you little good for your reputation as a constitutional expert.

Onyourtoes: We can argue from whatever point of view we like - whether it is constitutional, the meaning of the word ‘official', whether or not it is a British legacy, a middle-class syndrome, an elitist demand, a violation of national aspiration, or a disadvantage to certain sections of our society.

But the fundamental question that we should be asking is: how is the present education system doing? Does it serve Malaysia purpose in term of producing people with the right skills and English language ability to serve Malaysia's international commerce, trade, science and research and development?

Does it serve Malaysia's unity effort? Does it produce citizens with the right orientation or world view?

I hope for once we should all be honest with our answer - an answer not based on political correctness, parochialism, expediency and personal interests.

I am very clear in my mind - the national schools are not working because they have lousy teachers and uncommitted headmasters; they promote parochialism, inculcate archaic work cultures and values.

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