Pro-English lobby group admits could lose battle to politics

Page chairman Datin Noor Azimah said the pro-English lobby will continue to struggle despite the forum’s poor response tonight. – Pic by Ooi Jia Lee

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 – A pro-English lobby group finally admitted today it was fighting a losing battle in its bid to get Maths and Science taught in the English language (PPSMI) again, blaming its likely defeat on government politics.

The Najib Administration, they noted, had ignored their pleas over the past two years, as its decision to reverse the PPSMI policy was a “political move” designed to help Barisan Nasional recoup its loss of rural Malay votes in Elections 2008.

Admitting that the struggle had nearly reached a dead-end, Parent Action Group for Education (Page) chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim even suggested today that the group call it a day.

This was following the lukewarm response Page received at a forum here tonight where only 50-odd individuals turned up to discuss the issue, showing signs that its long drawn-out struggle had run out of steam.

The forum, held at the Malaysian Bar Council’s auditorium which has a seating capacity of about 200, is Page’s third in an ongoing nationwide campaign to pressure the government into changing its policy.

When addressing the crowd this evening, Noor Azimah expressed her disappointment at the poor turnout.

“We speak about blasting (promoting) this out through the internet and all that, and we blasted for today but look at what we have.

“We did blast and blasted for a week so if this is an indication of the so-called tsunami we hope to achieve ... I think we should throw in the towel,” she said.

Her suggestion met with protest from participants but the crestfallen Noor Azimah pointed out that, “It has already been two years, you know.”

“And it’s not that people do not know about us. The media has given us fantastic support ... some politicians even envy me because I get more media coverage than they do,” she said.

The Page forum received a lukewarm response. – Pic by Ooi Jia Lee

Page activists and members conceded during the forum that the major stumbling block in their fight was politics and in their decision to avoid using violence and aggression to achieve their goals.

During the discussion, one parent complained about the lacklustre response the group was receiving and suggested that it uses more “kurang ajar” tactics to have its arguments heard.

“Look at the “Interlok” issue. Perhaps we may need to start burning books and demonstrating too so that the government hears us,” said the agitated parent.

But Noor Azimah insisted that Page’s fight was for the education rights of children, adding that as role models, it was important not to resort to such tactics to win support for their cause.

She told The Malaysian Insider later that despite the response, Page had no choice but to press on with its campaign until the government agreed with its views on the issue.

“We just have to press on, I guess. It is very difficult ... it has been two years. But giving up is not an option yet.

“We have to continue for the sake of the children,” she said.

She added that the group also did not plan to beat the administration at its own political game by engaging with the opposition, pointing out that it was their belief that politics should be kept out of the education system.

“I do not know. Maybe we do have to burn some books. As much as we want to remain proper ... if we are pushed to the point of desperation, we might just have to do so.

“But yes, it would not be right and this is probably as assertive as we can get,” she said, noting that the group would present its sixth memorandum to the Prime Minister’s office this Wednesday in Putrajaya.

Noor Azimah admitted that several opposition politicians from PKR and DAP had approached Page offering assistance, but the group had declined.

“I think it would just drive the ruling government away. We have offers from DAP and PKR but we decided to stay away from them.

“We know some politicians from Umno agree with us but they daren’t speak out because of their political positions.

“So who? There is no political party siding with us for real and this is our folly but political parties are all racial ... we are not. We are Malaysians and we are very much on our own. They only back racial groups,” she lamented.

Parent Lee Hui Seng believes Page needs a more aggressive approach. – Pic by Ooi Jia Lee

When asked if she felt Page’s struggle was a “losing battle”, Noor Azimah agreed.

“Yes it does seem that way but the reason why we are continuing is because we feel that the decision made by the government was flawed.

“And look, UPSR and PMR results have improved and I am sure this will be reflected in the SPM results in March too.

“We have told teachers that they have done a good job but the government is still not budging,” she said.

During the forum earlier, panellists argued that Malaysian legislation provided for the use of English as a medium of instruction in schools, adding that it was not deemed unconstitutional.

Universiti Teknologi Mara Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi cited Article 152 of the Federal Constitution which states that while Bahasa Malaysia should be used for all official purposes, it was not unlawful to use English as a substitute for the same purpose.

“I am sorry but it is true that it does not say the same for other languages like Tamil or Mandarin. But English can be used.

“Similarly, Section 17 of the Education Act also exempts any educational institution from using Malay as its main language. Now, all we are asking for is an option for two subjects,” he said.

Bank Islam Berhad chief executive officer Junaida Abdul Jalal told participants that when interviewing applicants for jobs, she was “appalled” to find many of those applying for managerial positions had a very poor command of the English language.

“In finance, a good proportion of the terminology is in English. I was a stockbroker, I worked in securities, stock options and so on; for example, when we have a document called the ‘naked warrant’, how do we translate that into BM?” she asked.

Apologetically, she added that the Malay language was very “shallow” and in any interpretation, it was simpler to understand terms in the English language.

“Even the Quran. It is easier to understand the English interpretation of the Quran than the BM.

Junaida Abdul Jalal described the Malay language as “shallow”. – Pic by Ooi Jia Lee

“This is reality and we have to do something about it,” she said.

Datuk Dr Sharifah Maimunah Syed Zin, formerly the director of Curriculum Innovation and Teacher Development in the Education Ministry, noted that the government had taken great pains to educate teachers on how to teach their students Maths and Science in the English language.

“We have done a lot. And I have met many teachers and they have admitted that their students are advancing well,” she said.

The group of panellists also agreed that the government’s decision to change the PPSMI back to the old system was purely a “political move”, meant to recoup its losses among the rural Malay community in Elections 2008.

In the government’s new policy, the medium of instruction for Maths and Science for Form One students will remain strictly in Bahasa Malaysia from next year.

For Standard One students this year, both subjects will also be taught strictly in Bahasa Malaysia.

“It is too bad that the silent majority is still in hiding. Many speak passionately about it but they only dare do it via email and SMS. They will not come out.

“I am not trying to advocate violence or demonstrations but ... we need to find other ways,” said Lee Hui Seng, a parent.

Page will proceed with its forums despite today’s poor turnout and will submit its sixth memorandum to the Prime Minister in Putrajaya at noon on Wednesday, when Cabinet meets.

It will also hold similar discussions in Batu Pahat, Kuching, Sabah and Sitiawan, over the next few weeks.