How many ministers’ children are studying abroad?

Sarawakians want to know how sincere federal ministers are in wanting Malaysia to be globally competitive .

KUCHING: The opposition in Sarawak are backing a call for a referendum to find out how many federal cabinet ministers, their deputies and those involved in education policy-making are sending their children overseas to study where the medium of instruction is in English.

The Sarawak opposition parties have also urged the government “to be practical” about the issue, saying that when the national “economy is weak, you cannot be overzealous about Bahasa Malaysia”.

According to Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian, many Sarawakian parents along with party members wanted to know where the ministers sent their children to study and how many were sent abroad.

“There is a suggestion by certain quarters that there should be a referendum among the federal ministers where and which schools they are sending their children to.

“I support this suggestion so that we know where they send their children to. Are they sending their children overseas to learn English?

“With this referendum, then we can see whether these ministers are sincere or they just want to make it (using Bahasa Malaysia to teach mathematics and science) just a political issue,” he said.

Bian was responding to Education Minister Muyiddin Yassin’s announcement that starting next year all schools will start using Bahasa Malaysia as a medium of instruction to teach mathematics and science.

De-politicize education

Bian, who is the Ba’Kelalan assemblyman, said that both as a parent and a party member he wants the education policy de-politicised.

“As a father and a PKR leader, we would like to make a stand regarding the change of education policy as announced by the Education Minister that the teaching of Mathematics and Science should be changed back to the use of Bahasa Malaysia.

“An earlier indication from the school was that that they were given option. But now the use of Bahasa Malaysia to teach mathematics and science is absolute and without any option.

“Looking at the history of our Education Ministers, each one of them would come with a different kind of policy when he took over the ministry, resulting in very inconsistent educational policies.

“Our stand is that you should stick to one policy only as changing it mid-term is really making it worse for our people,” said Bian.

He added that the government, it appeared, had not learnt from the past.

As the country is approaching the 13th general election, he said: “It is irresistible conclusion, as a lawyer would say, that the minister is using it as a political issue to gain political mileage.

“As a minister for all races, he should not use it as a political issue. It is not fair to other people,” he said.

‘Step backward’

Commenting on the same issue, Sarawak DAP leader Chong Chieng Jen described the change of teaching Mathematics and Science from English back to Bahasa Malaysia as a step backward.

“We are all concerned as this is a step backward,” said Chong who is the state DAP secretary.

“It is a great burden for our students who have to study Mathematics and Science in Bahasa Malaysia from Form One right to Form Five, and then to English in Lower and Upper Six.

“It would be better for the students in secondary schools to be taught Mathematics and Science in English as we are laying the foundation for them to go to colleges and universities.

“All research materials for engineering, medicine and science subjects are in English. It will be a great burden for our students,” he said.

Chong, who is the MP for Bandar Kuching, accused certain ministers of overzealous over the importance of Bahasa Malaysia.

“Bahasa Malaysia is our national language. It is important, but we have to understand that the country is not an island. We are playing in global fields,” he said.