View from the Far Side: Of Diversity, Natives, Language at Schools, etc
It is very perplexing – the myriad of issues that Malaysians currently face. I am not referring to the clearly heavy political issues at the moment.
By Nora
Here’s a smorgasborg of things I’m thinking about:
On diversity:
Nations of this world are not inhabited by pure ‘races’. (Forget about that old catastrophic ‘experiment’ in Germany by an infamous Austrian called A. Hitler who wanted only the pure Aryan blood e.g. fair-skinned, blond haired, blue-eyed people, to prosper there. As we all know, his ‘experiment’ and other similar experiments have been utter catastrophes).
Ancient humans and modern ones, are a migratory bunch. Those who read the Talmud, New Testament, Bible, Koran, etc would find written there that groups of people way back then moved about a lot, and over long distances too, despite not having access to good transportation system. History books also tell us similar ‘stories’. The National Geographic’s Genographic Project states that humans ventured out of Africa approximately 60,000 years ago and left their genetic footprints in the farthest reaches of this earth (see: https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/atlas.html )!
More familiar to Malaysians perhaps is the story of the early ‘traders’. From the East, Admiral Zheng Ho of China and his famous fleet apparently reached far-flung parts of this world, some married the locals e.g. in Malacca, and some say also in South America and other places. From the West, Arab and Indian traders also reached Malacca and beyond. And do not forget the Dutch with their Mare Liberum (Freedom of the Seas) doctrine, the Spanish, the Portuguese, etc in search of spices and natural resources! For sure, they have left more than just their footprints on Malaysian shores. As such, we humans are rather diverse, with ancestors who could be from exotic places on earth. And diversity is good! As you are well aware, scientists are positively inclined towards high diversity (not just for the flora and other fauna, mind you). The United Nations also embrace that diversity in people is a great thing!
On the question of Natives:
Who are the indigenous peoples or natives of a country, then? It is accepted for example that the natives of Australia are the australian Aborigines, the natives of New Zealand are the Maoris, the natives of North America are the various tribes of (Red) Indians and Inuits/Eskimos, the natives of Norway would be the Sámi people, etc. What about in Malaysia? The natives of Peninsular Malaysia are the Malaysian Aborigines called ‘Orang Asli’. The natives of Sabah and Sarawak are the super numerous tribes there (e.g. Kadazan, Kenyah, Punan, Penan, etc). An Orang Asli is legally defined as ‘a person who is a member of an aboriginal ethnic group, who speaks an aboriginal language, and habitually follows an aboriginal way of life and aboriginal customs and beliefs’. Obviously, many Malaysians in Peninsular Malaysia will not qualify to be classified as Orang Asli …. . More importantly, how many Malaysians consider the Orang Asli’s and the other natives’ right to their customs and native land rights, if not downright to their fair share of the national economic pie?
On discrimination and affirmative actions:
Malaysians are a widely-travelled people, somewhat familiar with the US, Canadian and especially British systems, whether it is in terms of their democratic governance, economics or education systems and other aspects too. Some Malaysians who have been overseas to western countries such as US, Canada, Australia, Europe, etc would probably experience some sort of discrimination. Have you heard of top scorers in schools not given the Top Scorer award because these top scorers are foreigners? There was a case in a Canadian school, where a Malaysian student was THE top scorer but was denied the award because she was not Canadian! And do you know that in Germany there is a law that says if your PhD is not awarded by a German university, you are forbidden from using the ‘Dr.’ Title? If you use the Dr. title in front of your name, you can be jailed for a year or more! A few years ago, American scientists with PhDs from respected universities such as Harvard but were employed at highly respectable German research institutions got into trouble with the German police. See here for examples:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/13/AR2008031304353.html, or http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/american_phds_cant_call_selves_doktor_in_germany/
Discrimination is rampant overseas and locally, and should be stopped!
The widely-travelled Malaysians would also be aware that, for example, there are affirmative action programs for minorities and disadvantaged groups in the foreign lands they visited. For example, in the USA, economically disadvantaged minorities such as of Hispanic and African origin, women, and handicapped people receive particular attention under affirmative action programs. Even in Europe, job advertisements would include statements that women and handicapped people are encouraged to apply for those positions and that they would be preferred over others when their qualification is at par. Maybe Malaysia can learn something from these examples: those who are qualified but disadvantaged should be helped. Fairly. Therein, lies the problem in Malaysia. How to ensure fairness and social justice in the selection process? A transparent set of selection criteria? What are these criteria? How many A’s (take note that the British Council Education Director reportedly expressed recently that British varsities are not impressed with mere academic performance but also with extra-curricular activities and ‘all-rounders’)? Other non-academic accomplishment? Proof of financial need? An independent selection panel? What else would contribute to a fair selection?
On using English for teaching Maths and Science:
Let’s look also at the burning question about language at schools and universities. Logically, learning anything is easiest in the language one is most familiar or comfortable with. As far as I know – most if not all – public schools and universities in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, China, South Korea, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and other non-English speaking countries use their own respective mother tongues for teaching Science and Maths. Please note that using their own mother tongues does not prevent them from excelling in these two fields! They may, however, have a bit of a problem later on when communicating with experts in their field outside of their own country, but they overcome this problem by learning and excelling in the English language as an extra course (non-compulsory). In effect, many countries which provide Science and Maths lessons in their own mother tongues can and do excel in these two fields. Why don’t Malaysian schools teach Science and Math in a language(s) that the pupils and teachers are most comfortable with? Especially when not all Malaysian pupils (and teachers) have a good grasp of the English language… .
Strangely, in Malaysia pupils start to learn English as a compulsory subject in schools from Day 1 of their schooling. They are supposedly learning the English language several hours each week. After six years of Primary school, the pupils should have a good grasp of the English language, both written and spoken. After the additional five years in Secondary school, the pupils should have a very good grasp of the English language (spoken and written). However, many pupils do not seem to have an acceptable level of the English language after the 11 years of compulsory English lessons. What gives??
While the issues above are not as ‘hot’ as the upcoming by-election or the unprecedented raid on an Opposition party HQ, nevertheless, in the effort for social justice vis-a-vis nation-building, I hope it is not frivolous to think aloud about these issues. Would be great to receive the readers' input also. Thank you!
