Sorry, off-topic
From chedet.co.cc

SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS IN MALAY
By Dr. Mahathir Mohamad on August 14, 2009 4:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

///1. The Government has decided that the teaching of science and mathematics would revert to Malay in the Government school, with Chinese in Chinese schools and Tamil in Tamil schools. How this is going to help integrate Malaysians I do not know./// — TDM

A dictionary defines the word ‘integrate’ as to end the segregation and to bring about common and equal membership of the society. It is clear that learning different languages do not contribute to segregation, and when the different vernacular schools teach their students, at the primary level, in the language of their mother tongue, or the main medium of instruction, that would not bring about segregation of the citizens in the country. It is most unethical for a has-been political opportunist to bring in extraneous argument to justify his wrong decision that had caused the sufferings of millions of students.

///2. Since then I had conducted a poll on my blog. The result is 84 per cent want to retain English as the language medium for these subjects.///– TDM

Yes, 84% of the 100,000 that voted wanted English to continue. These are from those or the parents of students who are in the midst of learning mathematics and science in English who wished to have English retained. The government has allowed English to continue for those cohorts so that they would not be affected by the policy change. Najib shows that he has the guts to do not as what Mahathir told him.

///3. Admittedly the poll was conducted in the English language and English language speakers might be biased in favour of English. ///– TDM

Statistics are susceptible to be used for lying, and to project whatever image one has the intention to. When the question asked is either yes or no, the answer can only be the preferred one between the two. Had the intention been to find the truth, the question would have provided different possible choices such as suggested by experts.

///4. But some parents and teachers had also conducted a survey and the majority are again in favour of English. A petition to the Prime Minister by parents and teachers was copied to me and they were in favour of retaining English. At least one senior non-Malay politician had left a Barisan Nasional component party and joined the opposition because of the switch back to Malay, Tamil and Chinese. He claimed that he could not afford to send his grandchildren abroad as some who advocate Malay as the medium had been doing.///– TDM

The parents and students have no problem with the switch back to Malay, Tamil and Chinese at the primary level. They might have preferred to have English at the secondary school level. TDM has either not fully understood the issue or he pretends not to have. If he had made the switch to English only at the secondary school, there would be no controversy now. But he had ulterior motive which he chose not to reveal. Since primary school cannot have a choice of mother tongue teaching of the two subjects in primary school, and English at secondary school, they are willing to forgo the use of English at secondary level.

///5. I meet a lot of people at the various forums I am invited to speak. During the usual post-meeting tea most of the participants who got to talk with me, mostly Malays regretted the Government’s decision to use Malay for Science and Mathematics.///– TDM

That was talk in the corridor of power, but now corridor of powerless. Who cares?

///6. The reason that has been given is that Malays, particularly kampung Malays just could not do well when the two subjects were taught in English. If we follow this kind of argument we should also stop trying to get Malays to do business because they really cannot do well in that field. They are best at working as wage-earners, particularly in Government service. We should encourage them not to try to go into business.///– TDM

Ironically what TDM thought a tongue-in-cheek comment is the only sensible one. Nobody says that Malays cannot do well in business, and it is wrong to say so for two reasons. Malays now do not belong to any ethnic group, anthropologically speaking. People of Malayali race from Kerela of India are good businessman; the descendent of a Malayali in Malaysia is now known as Malay. Arabs are great businessman, and in Malaysia they are now Malays. Indonesians of Java origin, and Bugis are great businessman, and they are called Malay in Malaysia. Who can ever say that Malays are not good businessmen? The government has been utilising the excuse of getting Malays into business for enriching the cronies of the powers-that-be, such as through APs scheme, and discount purchase of equity to attain the 30% participation in the corporate sector.
The government has no business to be involved in telling how private citizens should lead their life. The job of the government here and elsewhere are to provide the environment for people in pursuit of their happiness. It is for the people to decide whether going into business is a happy thing to do.

When communications were difficult in the past, the rulers had no clue as to what represent the best government. Now the government has the chance to learn not to repeat mistakes made by others, through meeting their counterparts in other countries. The government can pretend that Malaysia is unique, and that it has done better than others, and pretty soon we only have Zimbabwe in our rank.

///7. If we do this then the current anger over the New Economic Policy on the part of the non-Malays would be reduced./// — TDM

TDM never fails to link his failed policy with another one which Malays love to keep.

///8. Similarly with learning English. Malays just cannot learn and speak English. We should stop teaching it so that the language would not drag down the Malays in their exams. We should see better results./// — TDM

This is usual TDM logic; he will take one example to represent the total. By the same logic, since he can speak and learn English, TDM is not Malay. Would he accept that argument?

///9. Malays do best at paddy planting and fishing with rods and net. They should be taught to do this, probably with new technology./// — TDM

That are skills handed down, and it would be a pity to lose them. Since they do best in those areas, there is no need to teach them. As for utilising technology, people in the field would know how to utilise them to their advantage; TDM thinks that only he knew best.

///10. By switching back to Malay, we can expect them to vote for the Government party at the next election. Similarly we can expect at least some who believe their children’s future has been blighted by this decision to think again about voting for the BN./// — TDM

TDM confirms that he cares only for election results in formulating government policies. He is just a follower then. Or is he an opportunist thinking always about his position, and not the health of the nation? How we wish he had been thrown out in 1987 UMNO election. Malaysia would have been on the path to Japanese success had there been no blackout during vote counting process of the 1987 UMNO presidential election.

///11. I cannot read Chinese but Utusan Malaysia kindly translated the editorial in the Sin Chew Jit Poh. The editorial basically said that giving “Ang Pow” would not win over the voters.///– TDM

Wonder whether it was also translated into Tamil; there would not be a need for Utusan Malaysia, and TDM would learn about it there.