MPs Give Mixed Views On Use Of English

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 (Bernama) -- Several members of Parliament today gave mixed views on the use of English in teaching Science and Mathematics during the debate on the royal address in the Dewan Rakyat.
Datuk Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) said he and people in his constituency supported the policy as it could help students master the language.
"Yesterday, I was sad and disappointed and felt elected representatives are no longer safe in this House. I was surrounded, snarled and verbally abused by a person with the status of a religious teacher who wanted me to retract my remarks about the policy.
"I only say what people in my area have told me. In Kinabatangan, there are no English tuition centres and the policy should be retained because it is one way of children in my place master English," he said.
Dr Mohd Hatta Md Ramli (Pas-Kuala Krai) said he disagreed with the policy because it did not achieve the objective of helping students master English.
"Science and Mathematics are two subjects with their own terminologies. Previously, we learned English in the language and our argument is the policy does not achieve the objective," he said.
Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak) shared Bung Moktar's views and said that to oppose the policy was a denial syndrome. The policy could help expand knowledge since most reference materials and terminologies used by the subjects were in English, he said. "That is why the policy is important not because of English but to seek knowledge," he said.
Dr Puad Zarkashi (BN-Batu Pahat) said that personally, he was of the view that Bahasa Malaysia should be used in teaching the two subjects.
Datuk Seri Hadi Awang (PAS-Marang) said several studies conducted by local higher learning institutes showed the policy was unsuccessful and did not bring benefits especially to students in rural areas.
The Dewan Rakyat will sit again Thursday.

tunku : if kinabatangan supports PPSMI then it is very good sign as it is a rural area. this policy is the best policy for our rural students to be master in english as they are forced to learn it and it is the only medium that will master their english language skills. hadi awang said several local learning institute showed the policy is unsuccessful, from where he got the report, from Gapena? UM education department said PPSMI is successful in their reports and research. The examination results showed PPSMI is successful.So what is the problem with it? don't politicized the future of our childrens just to be popular.