The Education Minister, who is also Najib’s deputy, told reporters here that the prime minister was consulted on the matter before he left for Mecca.
“Yes, I have consulted him... before he left for Mecca. The government is with us.
“It is not my decision (alone), I do not have such powers. It is the decision of the Cabinet and the PM is agreeable to the decision to abolish PPSMI,” he said.
Muhyiddin however added that despite backing the abolition of PPSMI, Najib had also expressed the need to improve on students’ English language skills.
“He asked if the content of English literature could be increased,” he said.
Muhyiddin was responding to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s remarks today that Najib (picture) could still override the decision to abolish PPSMI.
Dr Mahathir, who is still widely influential in Umno after serving as PM for 22 years, said the current prime minister should do so for the good of the country.
“The idea of going back to Bahasa (Malaysia) in mathematics and science will make us all very backward.
“If it is something for the good of the country, not only the education minister, but everybody can be overridden,” he told reporters here today.
Dr Mahathir introduced PPSMI before he stepped down from government in 2003.
The Najib administration has been receiving much flak from pro-English lobby groups and opposition lawmakers for abolishing the policy in 2009 and introducing the MBMMBI (Upholding the Malay Language and Strengthening Command of English) in its place.
During the press conference earlier, Muhyiddin announced that students already in the PPSMI system may continue in it until the completion of their secondary education.
He explained that today’s decision meant that students between Year Three and Form Five next year would be allowed the option of learning science and mathematics in Bahasa Malaysia, English or both languages, as allowed under PPSMI, until they complete their primary and secondary education.
But this year’s Year One students, the first batch to undergo MBMMBI (Upholding the Malay Language and Strengthening Command of English), would have to continue learning the two subjects in Bahasa Malaysia when they enter Year Two next year, he said.
When pointed out that Dr Mahathir was unhappy with the government’s decision, saying “Just hope people don’t get angry and refuse to vote for BN (Barisan Nasional)”, Muhyiddin said:
“I hope the same... Tun M is greatest supporter of BN. I hope Tun M also understands that we did not make this decision carelessly.”
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