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theSun | THURSDAY OCTOBER 29 2009 11

INTERVIEWS VIEWS

by K.K. Tan

The ‘1Malaysia’ dilemma


vernacular schools would be un-
just, against past understanding
THE four main places for racial and the principle of free choice
integration in Malaysia are: and would create social unrest.
» where we study; The government can do more
» where we work; and invest its resources more ef-
» where we live; and ficiently to make national schools

of our education system


» where we entertain, play more attractive to non-Malays.
games and visit. There should be less talk and
Of the four, education is the more action to implement what
most important as it shapes our has already been announced and
values and outlook from a young, agreed upon.
tender and impressionable age Perhaps what is needed is an
and through our formative years. vernacular schools together at in science and maths. than Bahasa Malaysia can. That overhaul of our education system
But our diverse national educa-
tion system, which allows the
the same site to share common
facilities in order to allow chil-
Are we “trading off” the use of
English needed to speed up our
Beyond is the reality we are facing as a
young nation.
in the spirit of 1Malaysia, which

freedom of choice for parents, is dren of all races to interact. A few economic development to per- Race We can continue to develop
must include greater usage of
English and a comprehensive
stuck in a dilemma. Our national were subsequently set up but it ceived political benefits (which A new perspective Bahasa as a unifying force but programme to attract and train
schools, which should be the remains unclear if they are a vi- are harder to prove) by using we cannot afford to wait for it to the right kind of people as good
place for integrating our chil- able solution to our fragmented Bahasa Malaysia? catch up while we all lag behind. teachers with the right skills and
dren of all racial backgrounds, education system. Sure, Bahasa Malaysia, if Our economic development and knowledge and the right outlook
are not the preferred choice for Besides the poor racial mix properly developed, nurtured competitiveness should take on national unity.
most non-Malays who are send- due to the different types of and supported by all, can over precedence over all else because
ing their children to Chinese, schools, the other important fac- the long run (say in a decade or achieving economic success for
Tamil, private and international tor in promoting national unity is two) be the language of science all is also a vital ingredient for This is the edited version of the
schools. Why? the role of teachers. Teachers can and commerce as well. But the racial harmony. speech that the writer gave at a
In recent press articles, the “make or break” a child’s outlook use of English can greatly speed What is the way forward for national unity forum organised
top reasons given by most non- to life and on issues such as race. up (perhaps by decades) our our education system? by ASLI recently. Comments: let-
Malay parents for their lack of Having skilled and properly economic development more Curbing or closing down the ters@thesundaily.com.
interest in sending their children trained teachers has been a prob-
to national schools are: lem. And having teachers with
» not enough emphasis on the right attitude and outlook
Chinese and Tamil; to promote mutual respect and
» lackadaisical attitude of understanding of all races seems
teachers; to be a bigger problem.
» Bahasa Malaysia as a medium Although there are exceptions,
of instruction; and the teaching profession appears
» perceived Islamisation. to be the “dumping ground” of
As a result, national schools those who cannot make it for the
have become increasingly other professions or those who
dominated by Malay pupils. are merely using it as a ladder
Vernacular or national-type for other academic pursuits. It
schools existed in the country is simply not attracting the right
even before Independence. As kind of people like before.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib On the medium of instruction
Razak said in his response to in schools, no one doubts the
a question in Paris earlier this importance of Bahasa Malaysia
month, “… it is not ideal, but or its position as the national lan-
something we accept. We have guage. But the role of English as
inherited from our forefathers a “neutral” language in the past
a system where various com- to unite the students has not been
munities decide on the type of given due recognition.
education for their children … An academic question often
if we go against the choice, then asked is: “What if the govern-
there is bound to be social unrest ment had continued with using
…” English as the medium of in-
While nothing much can struction?” Would our national
be done about vernacular schools provide a more condu-
schools, the government can cive climate for racial harmony
certainly do more to woo the and attract a more racially mixed
non-Malays to national schools. student population than what’s
The government has stated its happening now? Many in the
intention many times to make generations that went to the
national schools more appealing English-medium national
to non-Malays, for example, by schools can testify that there
introducing Mandarin and Tamil were much better race relations
classes during school hours and then and much of the goodwill
phasing out the limited POL still remains until today.
classes which take place after The government has recently
school hours. decided to switch to the use of
But many people feel that Bahasa Malaysia in national
there has been too much talk schools for science and maths
and too little action. They feel against the advice of the major-
that the Education Ministry is ity of parents, educationists and
not doing enough, partly due even former prime minister Tun
to its huge bureaucracy (and is Dr Mahathir Mohamad. The
therefore resistant to change) concern is that children from
and partly due to a lack of quali- the rural and poorer background
fied teachers (to teach Mandarin may suffer in the long term from
and Tamil, for example). such a policy. Many parents of all
Vision schools, when they races who have children in the
were first proposed about 10 urban schools are also appealing
years ago, seemed promising. to the government to allow these
The idea was to put a national schools to have the option of
school and one or two other continuing in the use of English

Admittedly, vernacular schools should not be overly sentimental or


today do not operate along the unnecessarily prejudiced about this
same line as in the past. They issue. We should willingly decide
have different objectives and with a clear conscience to enrol our
expectations to meet. Neverthe- children in national schools.
less, I believe national schools are It will not be easy for us to
in a better position to provide the embark on this endeavour. There
right environment for children of will be objections, rejections and
different races to mix. Here they obstacles. However, we must per-
are readily given the opportunity severe if we honestly want to see
to learn early in life, the important this nation progress as a dignified,
attributes of acceptance, sharing peaceful and successful country,
and caring. in consonance with the 1Malaysia
Therefore, I urge the relevant spirit.
authorities and all peace-loving Ma-
laysians to heed the professor’s call Zamri Mahmud
on the single stream system. We Kuala Lumpur

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