Muhyiddin: Bahasa for science and maths stays
(The Malaysian Insider) – Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has waded into the fierce debate over the use of English in teaching science and mathematics in schools, saying Malaysians cannot afford to “sacrifice” Bahasa Malaysia for other languages.
The education minister said that while the government recognised the importance of English as an international language, Bahasa Malaysia will continue to be used as the main teaching tool in national schools.
“We cannot sacrifice our national language for another language.”
“I am a strong proponent of English, we should strengthen the command of English and (at the same) continue the use of Bahasa Melayu as the main language in schools,” Muhyiddin said today during a dialogue session with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) students and academic staff.
The deputy prime minister said Malaysians needed to cultivate an attitude where they treated Bahasa Malaysia as a “unique” language, and if no importance was placed on it the language risked being lost.
“As a country which has achieved its independence, we have to strengthen Bahasa Melayu.”
Muhyiddin argued his case by saying that research conducted by Unesco found that schoolchildren were more receptive in learning new subjects using their mother tongue.
“Some people do not understand any other language apart from their mother tongue. The important thing is knowledge, and what is the simplest medium to attain it?
“Unesco research found that people learnt things better via their own language, their mother tongue,” he said.
The DPM also stressed that as far as the government was concerned, Bahasa Malaysia will continue to be used as the medium to teach science and mathematics in schools.
