National laureate Siti Zainon thinks PPSMI proposal is Dr M's 'little joke'

Although the government has yet to decide on the proposed reintroduction of the teaching of Maths and Science in English, National Laureate Siti Zainon Ismail has been quick to describe Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's initial announcement as a joke.

In a sarcastic tone, Siti Zainon (above) said Malaysians should be bold in voicing their views on the matter.

"I consider this statement to be a joke of his. I have escorted him (Mahathir) to the Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka and he said he was embarrassed because his Malay was village Malay, not the formal Malay.

"Nevermind, let him have his views, he's past 90... but no matter what, we have to speak up," she told reporters after attending a Gerakan Mansuhkan PPSMI press conference at the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim) central secretariat in Kuala Lumpur today.

On Jan 31, the issue of Teaching and Learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) was again proposed by Mahathir leading to objections from many quarters.

However, Mahathir, who is also acting education minister, said today that the issue had not been decided upon and that any decision would be made based on the opinion of the majority of the cabinet members.

Meanwhile, Siti Zainon claimed that most young people in the country are ashamed of using their mother tongue compared to young people in Korea and Indonesia.

"For example, when they (Indonesian and Korean youths) are representing the country overseas, they are not ashamed of their native language and they bring in translators.

"This self-awareness must come from the home," she said.

The 14th national laureate also described the current situation as one in which young people are more proud of their Western appearance.

"I see how in local dramas even though their English is not good, but their hair is dyed and their eyes are blue.

"This is an impoverishment of the soul, something personal that comes from the heart," she said.

Meanwhile, Chinese educationist group Dong Zong took a rather less emotional tract in opposing PPSMI.

In a statement yesterday, Dong Jiao Zong said that the implementation of PPSMI from 2003 to 2009 ended in failure and even led to a decline in student performance in these subjects.

It also cited a Unesco research showing that students learn more effectively when taught in the mother tongue.

"Should the government re-implement the PPSMI policy in conflict with the education theory, it will surely have a negative impact. Any policies and measures implemented by the Education Ministry should meet actual needs."

 - Mkini