Malaysia, Language & Education

By resident.wangsamaju

Malaysians are just too focused on race. Government policies are focused on race. The word Bumiputera and Malay is over-emphasized. The Malay language is over-emphasized. Preserve the language in schools we can, but let us also look into the quality of education shall we.

Why can’t the medium of teaching be made elective. Let the people choose what they want and end the issue. Why can’t we kill this problem as soon as possible and focus on improving the quality of education instead. Kebangsaan schools are just horrible in terms of quality. If time were to turn back I would get into a jenis kebangsaan school instead of a kebangsaan school.

I am seated at a nice restaurant during dinner with a friend somewhere in Kowloon Bay. Business is good; each table of the 50-table restaurant is occupied. Waiters and waitresses rush to serve. Once a while a waiter with a Peking duck whizzes pass me. At this point in time Hong Kong’s unemployment rate is 5.3% (Malaysia- below 5%). Hong Kong’s GDP is 5%, compared to Malaysia’s negative 4%.  I don’t know what is Malaysia’s ranking but the natural-resource-constrained Hong Kong is the 13th largest exporter in the world. And they just have 7 million people.

“You were educated in Malay?” This question from my friend interrupted my thoughts.

“Yes, I answered. I’m from Malaysia; naturally I will be educated in Malay with a mix of English. Malay language is mainstream. It’s normal.”

Friend replied politely, “True, but China’s economy is big and isn’t it good to know Chinese too. I think Malaysia failed to consider certain aspects of education and language?” Duh, I did not have an answer to this.

Read more at: Malaysia, Language & Education