PETALING JAYA – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, a strong advocate of the Malay Proclamation movement, today repeated his call for mathematics and science to be taught in English.
Posting on social media, the former prime minister said it has always been his belief that science and mathematics should be taught in English.
“This is because this field of knowledge is not indigenous. This means that it comes to us not in the Malay language. And it comes largely in the English language,” he remarked.
With the knowledge having to be translated to the Malay language, he said this means that those tasked with translating must have a good understanding of the subjects and also be fluent in both English and Bahasa Malaysia.
“Not many people would have this qualification. Besides, new discoveries in science and applications of mathematics are being made almost daily. To translate them would require an army of translators.
“It is different from other fields of knowledge. In geography and history, for example, the basic facts hardly ever change. Only the presentation may be different. So the need to translate is quite limited.
“But with science and mathematics, new discoveries and new applications have to be learnt or acquired if the student is going to keep up with the new technologies,” he said.
Dr Mahathir claimed that many parents were upset with the government’s decision to stop the teaching of science and maths in English as an option.
Therefore, he said, the government should reconsider the decision.
“Better still, let it not be just an option. Let us decide to teach science and mathematics in English,” Dr Mahathir said.
The 98-year-old politician, however, said that while Bahasa Malaysia has developed greatly, certain terms related to mathematics and science in the language are still borrowed from other languages, mostly from English.
“We understand the national desire to develop our language. But the objective of education is primarily to gain knowledge.
“We cannot sacrifice knowledge merely because we want to develop our language. “Education would be worthless if we are left behind in terms of knowledge, which is essential to our development and progress,” he said.
Dr Mahathir had led the charge for mathematics and science to be taught in English back when he was prime minister the first time.
Called the Teaching of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI), the move was scrapped in 2013.
Dr Mahathir attempted to bring back PPSMI in 2020 when he became prime minister again and also held the education portfolio as acting minister. – The Vibes, August 23, 2023
