While the multi-ethnic leaders and supporters of opposition parties have closed ranks, the Umno-dominated Barisan Nasional (BN) is publicly and seriously split from top to bottom over the proposal to change the medium of instruction of Science and Mathematics to English at different levels of schooling from next year.
PAS acting president Abdul Hadi Awang even delivered his party's response with some panache. Yesterday, he held a two-hour dinner-dialogue to discuss a wide range of issues with representatives of the local, regional and international media.
Among senior journalists and editors present at the five-star hotel in Kuala Lumpur were those from the Straits Times , Reuters, AFP and South China Morning Post .
In a statement, Hadi expressed "full support" for Dong Jiao Zong (DJZ) and the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (SCAH) "in their effort to uphold the use of mother tongue in the teaching of Science and Mathematics in Chinese primary schools".
Hadi, who is Terengganu Mentri Besar, also said PAS was not against the effort to upgrade the proficiency of English and other languages to help Malaysians cope with globalisation.
The statement reaffirmed that PAS "regards all languages as knowledge".
However, "PAS considers the proposal rash and undemocratic because it is based on the sentiment of racial politics."
"PAS also wishes to remind the Prime Minister and top Umno leaders not to deliver threats which are linked to racial sentiment," said the opposition leader-in-waiting whose credentials have been endorsed by PAS, Keadilan and the Chinese-predominated multi-ethnic Democratic Action Party (DAP).
'Chauvinism' rejected
On June 2, the 48th national convention of PAS had passed a resolution to support wider use of the Chinese language in Malaysia.
The next day, Sin Chew Jit Poh quoted a PAS vice president, Dr.Hassan Ali, as saying that China has become increasingly important in regional affairs and the global economy. As such, he said, learning Chinese was crucial as it would enhance the competitiveness of Malaysians.
The report also quoted another PAS resolution condemning Umno for stirring "racism" by painting the Islamic party as an anti-English "bigot".
Since 1985, PAS has taken a position that Umno's Malay nationalism is a form of "racial chauvinism" or assabiyah , which is against Islamic teachings.
Keadilan cites rights
On July 20, Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said in a statement that the Malay-based multi-ethnic party "opposes changes initiated by the Barisan Nasional (BN) to impose sudden basic changes in the national system of education, without careful and detailed consideration being given to the practicality and implications, especially to the under-privileged".
The wife of jailed former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim also affirmed that "Keadilan supports the right of every community to practise and preserve its own language and culture, as laid down in the Federal Constitution, and there should be no attempt to diminish this right."
"We regard the freedom of each community to preserve its own identity through its language and culture as an important feature in our multi-ethnic society, with Bahasa Malaysia as the national language," she added.
Wan Azizah was recently the guest of honour at a grand dinner and cultural performance organised by DJZ in Kajang.
Last year, she was guest of honour at a dinner celebrating the 78th anniversary of the SCAH. Also invited on both occasions were representatives of PAS, MCA, DAP, Gerakan and PRM.
A malaysiakini report on Aug 8 said 13 Malay-based civil organisations have jointly signed an appeal with DJZ and seven other Chinese-based NGOs, asking the government to retract the proposal. Among the Malay organisations are the Workers' Union of the Language and Heritage Council (Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka), and the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim).
Varying official responses
On the other side of the political divide, there are many conflicting, confusing and disharmonious positions.
While Umno president and Prime Minister Dr.Mahathir Mohamad was reported yesterday as attacking "Chinese extremists" and taking an uncompromising and radical stand that the proposal would be implemented as scheduled, others in Umno and MCA do not seem to support, or even agree with, him.
Deputy Education Minister Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin, for example, was quoted by Umno-controlled New Straits Times yesterday as saying that his ministry is willing to hold dialogues with any organisation that is opposed to the proposal.
As expected, deputy prime minister and premier-in-waiting, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has said nothing concrete, specific or substantial after the cabinet reached its decision of 'making no decision' on Aug 7.
Not in favour
MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik was quoted by Nanyang Siang Pau , China Press and Sin Chew Jit Poh as saying that MCA and other Chinese-based component parties of the BN do not need any deadline for the proposal to be implemented. MCA is the second largest component in the Umno-dominated ruling coalition.
The major Chinese-based parties in the BN are the mono-ethnic MCA and the Chinese-predominated multi-ethnic Gerakan, Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP).
MCA, Gerakan and SUPP have publicly registered their opposition to the proposal.
According to Ling, who spoke during a seminar on Saturday, the issue is how to improve English, but not changing the medium of instruction of Science and Mathematics in primary schools. He said the two issues are different and separate.
Malaysiakini reported that the seminar was also attended by representatives of DJZ and the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia.
MCA alternatives
Nanyang Siang Pau quoted Ling as saying that there are other ways and means to improve English such as " organising more seminars and debates in English" or "making English as a compulsory subject".
Ling who is also Transport Minister, was also quoted by China Press as saying that since the People's Republic of China is becoming "increasingly strong and powerful", many people all over the world are learning the Chinese language to upgrade trade and economic relations.
On Aug 4, a columnist in the Umno-controlled Mingguan Malaysia (the Sunday edition of the Utusan Malaysia ) 'reminded' Chinese Malaysians that Malaysia is not "China or Taiwan".
A malaysiakini columnist and veteran Chinese educationist Lee Ban Chen retorted that Malaysia "is also not the United States or Britain".
Youth enter fray
The BN is clearly split at the youth level. Nanyang Siang Pau and Sin Chew Jit Poh reported yesterday that Gerakan youth chief Teng Chang Yeow had publicly slammed Umno Youth for "misrepresenting the position of Gerakan youth" on the issue.
Teng, the younger brother of DAP youth chief Chang Khim, said Umno youth education bureau chief Adham Baba had falsely claimed in Berita Harian that Gerakan youth has "agreed" with Umno youth to support the proposal.
Teng was quoted by Nanyang Siang Pau as slamming Adham for "putting words that are not reflective of reality into the mouths of others".
He reportedly said he would send a letter of protest to Umno youth chief Hishammudin Hussein to express the "demands, opinions and worries" of the Gerakan youth.
Another Nanyang Siang Pau report said MCA youth chief Ong Tee Keat claimed that his organisation had not been officially invited to attend the Umno youth-sponsored meeting last Friday to discuss the issue.
The same paper, however, quoted Adham as saying that "he does not know why MCA youth did not attend the meeting".
Disagreement among Indians
In the Indian Malaysian community, MIC chief Samy Vellu has expressed his support for the proposal.
However, Tamil educationists and many parents, teachers and principals are clearly not happy with his decision.
Police were called in yesterday "to maintain law and order" at a seminar that Samy Vellu opened in Kuala Lumpur.
Protestors attempted to display banners and distribute fliers to express their opposition to the proposal.
Impact on legitimacy
Seen in balance, it will be interesting to monitor whether the hardline position adopted by Mahathir can be maintained and sustained, without further damaging the credibility and legitimacy of Umno among Malays, as well as Chinese, Indian and linguistic groups in the country.
The stance could create electoral disaster for MCA, Gerakan and other non-Malay component parties of the ruling coalition.
It has already destabilised inter-party relations in the BN as well as exacerbated intra-party factional relations within MCA, Gerakan and MIC.
If Umno concedes defeat on the issue, it will be interesting to see what excuse or pretext will be offered to retract the proposal without damaging the credibility of the hardliners in the party.
JAMES WONG WING ON is chief analyst of Strategic Analysis Malaysia (SAM) which produces the subscriber-based political report, Analysis Malaysia . Wong is a former member of parliament (1990-1995) and a former columnist for the Sin Chew Jit Poh Chinese daily. He read political science and economics at the Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. While in Sin Chew , he and a team of journalists won the top awards of Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) for 1998 and 1999.
