PAS launches 'save national language' campaign

[edteam]

<font size="+1">Is this a counterforce to the "Teaching Maths & Science in
English" policy?
Or plain manipulation of education by politikus?</font>


MALAYSIAKINI.COM
8:46pm Thu Nov 28th, 2002

PAS launches 'save national language' campaign
Beh Lih Yi

PAS launched its nationwide 'save the national language' campaign and
distributed more than 10,000 pamphlets in Kuala Lumpur today.

The campaign is in opposition to the government's decision to teach Science
and Mathematics in English for Standard One, Form One and Lower Six students
in all schools starting next year.

The move evoked strong objections from various education movements who are
keen to preserve the mother-tongue teaching medium in vernacular schools.

PAS vice-president Dr Hasan Ali, Youth chief Mahfuz Omar, central committee
members Dr Hatta Ramli and Dr Lo' Lo' Mohd Ghazali together with some 50
members from their party and ally Keadilan distributed the pamphlets in
Jalan Masjid India.

Also present was DAP national publicity chief Ronnie Liu.

Several police personnel monitored the group but did not interrupt them from
distributing the pamphlets.

Counter perception

Speaking to malaysiakini later, Hatta said the campaign aims to counter the
perception portrayed by BN leaders and the mainstream media that only
Chinese education groups are rejecting the switch.

"We gather at this Malay area today and we want to tell the government that
not all Malays agree with the government's decision to use English in
teaching the two subjects as portrayed by the mainstream media," said the
PAS leader, who is also the party's language action committee head.

Asked if there is a possibility they will join forces with the others who
oppose the switch, he replied: "Eventually it would be so. Every group is
moving now, this is an open activity and we invite our friends from
different communities."

Hatta said some 500,000 pamphlets have been printed and will be distributed
throughout the country, the next stop being Johor.

The pamphlet said the Malay language is the language of knowledge,
communication and unity. It added that the importance of learning English
should not undermine the national language.

Citing several reasons, the pamphlet urges the government to retract the
policy.

Stand together

In a his speech earlier, Hasan said the switch contravenes the national
philosophy which acknowledges the Malay language as the language of
knowledge.

* * *

In a related development, Deputy Education Minister Abdul Aziz Samsuddin
described the campaign as a lost cause as it will not be able stop the
implementation of the new policy.

The deputy minister, who was asked to comment on the campaign, added that
PAS will not be able to prevent students from learning the language.


FULL STORY:
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/200211280018400.php

[edteam]

BERNAMA.COM
December 08 , 2002 19:28PM

<FONT SIZE="+1">Aye To English, Says Pas Chief</FONT>

KUALA TERENGGANU, Dec 8 (Bernama) -- PAS has finally relented to using English to teach mathematics and science in its state-run religious schools.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said PAS would follow the national English policy, despite being against it in principle, as otherwise the students would lose out.

"Students may face difficulty understanding these subjects in English.

The basics must be in Bahasa Melayu if not students will be weak not only in science and mathematics but English, too," he said at a dialogue session and Aidilfitri ceremony with students here Sunday.

The PAS President was responding to the question if mathematics and science would be taught in English in PAS-run religious schools in Terengganu.

Abdul Hadi had said on Aug 7 that these schools would not abide by the Federal government policy to teach mathematics and science in English from next year.

However, Terengganu Religious Affairs Commissioner Datuk Engku Mohmamed Engku Abdul Rahman was quoted as saying recently that 13 government-run religious schools have now agreed to the English usage policy.

For this purpose, teachers from the state-run religious secondary schools would be trained at the Terengganu Education Department.

-- BERNAMA


SOURCE:
http://www.bernama.com/B2002/news.shtml?general/ge0812_15

[edteam]

<font size="+1">More on PAS' about-turn</font>

NEW STRAITSTIMES
Monday, December 9, 2002

Pas accepts policy on use of English
Rosli Zakaria

KUALA TERENGGANU, Dec 8: In an about-turn that has seen common sense triumph over partisan politics, Pas has accepted the policy on the use of English in the teaching of Mathematics and Science.

However, Pas acting president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said that although the party had decided to accept the policy, it was still opposing it on principle because of the party's central committee's resolution on the matter.

"We will follow the policy because this is demanded by mainstream education. However, we are still against its use in principle because this was the decision of the party central committee." Hadi said while it could not be denied that English as well as other foreign languages were important, the national language should be given equal importance.

"The Chinese have successfully proved that it can be used to teach Mathematics and Science. We should follow in their footsteps. We must use the national language as the foundation to teach these subjects." Hadi, who is Menteri Besar, was replying to questions raised at a dialogue with Terengganu people working outside the State who had returned for Hari Raya.

..."We do not want to alienate our own national language. We have to look at Japan as an example of a nation which succeeded in making its language accepted as a language of knowledge," he added.


FULL STORY:
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/National/20021209074521/Article/