theSun | WEDNESDAY MARCH 4 2009
speak up!
Decide wisely
on science, maths
IT IS unfortunate that the debate on the
PPSMI, the Malay abbreviation for the
teaching of science and mathematics
in English, is hotting up again just three
weeks before the Umno general assembly
and the party elections. More of the Umno
election candidates are saying just about
anything in order to appeal to the delegates
to vote for them. It appears that they think
that to be elected they must appear to be
more Malay than the rest. Thus to many
of them, to call for the end to the PPSMI is
a way of demonstrating their steadfastness
and commitment to the cause of the Malay
race and the purity of the Malay language,
the mother tongue.
As more and more are scrambling
forward to flog the PPSMI, those candi-
dates who think that the PPSMI should be
continued are no longer speaking up on
the subject, much less openly defending
it. Not many are as brave as the Tiger of
Kinabatangan, Datuk Bung Moktar Raden,
who openly spoke up for PPSMI in the
Dewan Rakyat last week. Nobody is say-
ing that Malay cannot be used to teach
mathematics, science and technological
subjects but in the end the cost is going to
be very high when learning the subjects in
the mother tongue up to the tertiary level
as after all the population of the country
letters
letters@thesundaily.com
Group feels short-changed
STUDIES and statistics show that many Malay-
sians will not retire comfortably. The approved
retirement funds set up either by the government
or private companies may not be sufficient given
the growing economic situation. Against this,
many individuals are looking for other sources of
income to ensure their families continue to enjoy
the lifestyle that they are accustomed to.
We the retirees from the plantation sector
are also in a similar predicament. The Malaysian
Estate Staff Provident Fund will only last so long
and given the increased life expectancy we also
need to think about the well-being of our families
during our life time and after.
We have been members of the All Malayan
Estate Staff Union (AMESU) since the early 50s
when we joined the plantations. We became
associate members of the union upon retirement.
When we retired we were enticed by union
office bearers to join the retirement death
benefit scheme (RDBS), which was also extended
to associate members. The RDBS required all
members, associate or otherwise, to pay a joining
fee of RM200 and a yearly premium of RM162 for
a coverage of RM20,000, which the families will
receive upon the member’s death.
Will the power planners
please stand up
FOLLOWING the disappointing reduction in
electricity tariffs announced by TNB, I have been
reading with increased interest reports relating to
electricity hoping to see a further announcement
of a reduction.
I am very concerned about the many reports
of electricity demand, excess capacities and
reserve margins, but can someone explain to me
what all these mean? Does it mean that someone
is building more capacity than actually required?
Surely there must be a body to look into the
demand and supply side of electricity?
Or is it that the excess electricity is caused
by companies generating unneeded electricity
simply to improve their shareholders’ returns?
My understanding suggests that those respon-
œ 11
thesun says
is only 25 million. Japan, which is often
touted as an example where the mother
tongue has been successfully used to teach
science and technological subjects, has a
population of about 130 million. And that
country has a tradition of learning science
and technological subjects going back to
more than a hundred years.
In the debate that has taken a new
turn as a result of the Umno elections and
influence of the “language nationalists”
going on the final offensive to have PPSMI
jettisoned, few seem to care for the future
of the young people of this small country
with a small population in a much glo-
balised world. The government decided
more than six years ago to teach science
and mathematics in English as a way of
ensuring greater use of the global language
by young Malaysians. It is a way to ensure
their ability to compete in a globalised
world and not because Malay cannot be
used to teach the two subjects. Anyway,
the Education Ministry has done a study
on the PPSMI and is expected to announce
soon whether the policy of teaching
science and mathematics in English is
going to be continued or reversed. It is
hoped that whatever the decision it must
not be made as a result of the influence of
politics and the language jingoists.
The officers convinced union members to
accept the scheme which provided substantial
benefits to our families.
But the scheme had a “catch”. Associate
members were not informed that the group
insurance policy had a limited benefit, ie we
would not be covered above the age of 65 years.
Something so obvious can be inadvertently
omitted when the officers were lobbying for
members, both ordinary and associate, to
subscribe to the scheme.
We were informed recently that the scheme
coverage has been reduced to RM10,000 but the
annual premiums continue to remain at RM162.
The union has 1,573 members taking part in this
scheme and the associate members stand to
lose RM10,000.
As we have no direct contact with the insur-
ance company since all matters are dealt with by
the elected officers, we appeal to the registrar of
trade unions, the director-general of insurance
and Bank Negara Malaysia to look into this matter
on behalf of the associate members.
AMESU Associate Members
Kuala Lumpur
sible for approving power generating projects as
well those responsible for planning the national
electricity needs, have failed in their duties.
I also take issue with the statement by the
director-general of the Malaysian Industrial De-
velopment Authority, calling for increased use of
coal and alternative fuels to substitute natural
gas when such a proposal will obviously only
lead to higher electricity tariffs. (See recent TNB
statements on why the electricity tariffs are not
dependent on petroleum prices alone)
Is this suggestion to revert to coal another flip
in our policies which have obviously flopped?
Tariff Watcher
Kuala Lumpur