Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has yet again lamented the deteriorating level of English among Malaysians.
Stressing that something needs to be done, the ruler believes that a single stream education system, as opposed to the current three types of schools (national, Chinese and Tamil), is the way to go.
The problem is definitely alarming and in emphasising this, Sultan Ibrahim pointed out how most government officers nowadays are unable to speak or write good English.
“That is why I am not in favour of the present three types of schools. Nowadays, there are Chinese and Tamil students who do not know how to speak Malay and of course, Malay students who can’t speak English,” the ruler said in an interview with The Star .
During his time as a student, all races attended English schools and it was a must to know both Malay and English.
“But now, when you teach Mathematics, Geography and History in Malay in schools, students are at a loss when they have to read books in English in universities. How can you be a scientist when your English is so bad?” he said.
At home, the ruler speaks in both English and Malay to his wife and children and he speaks Malay when he meets his subjects.
Don't politicise education, health issues
Further pointing out how it is the reverse in Malaysia, where the young cannot speak English proficiently while the young in other countries are speaking English, the ruler is definitely alarmed about this.
“No one should politicise education and health issues. I am worried for the education standards in this country. Please wake up!”
This is not the first time the Johor ruler has called for a single stream education system that uses English as the medium of instruction.
In his speech at the opening of the Johor state legislative assembly sitting in May, Sultan Ibrahim pointed out how Singapore's system has succeeded in fostering unity in the city state and Johoreans should be open-minded about adopting it.
And in an interview with The Star a month later, he warned that without a single stream education system that uses English as the medium of instruction, a ‘5Malaysia’ will emerge, instead of 1Malaysia.
