Yes Tun, you may be right but let me highlight the fact to you that Malaysia is also number one in the world to have twisted history in favour of political propaganda. And there's no country in the world that claims to be 'not a third world country' while nurturing a system of education which has been rubbished and in many ways insisting on only one way of thinking, again in the name of religious and political propaganda and before i forget, the glorious social contract! Anyone who wishes to think differently or question, becomes an outcast and blasphemous towards the religion! Is this a Democracy or a road towards Communism? What era are we living in Tun? This sort of persistent culture of dictatorship (not by you) would only safe guard Malaysia's standing in the world as a Third World Country! Period.
By Dr.Mahathir Mohamad
1. In an interview by Nanyang Siang Pau, I pointed out that there is no country in the world, except Malaysia where the Government allows and pays for schools which use a foreign language for teaching in schools meant for a community whose ancestors came from a foreign country.
2. A NSP reader claims that I was wrong because in many countries the Chinese language is taught and are spoken.
3. May I point out that there is a difference between teaching in a foreign language and learning (and speaking) a foreign language. I was referring to teaching (medium of instruction) in a foreign language not learning a foreign language. Learning a foreign language is usually not only permissible but encouraged.
4. The claim that in Thailand there are schools which use Chinese as the medium of teaching is not correct. There are International schools which do not use the Thai national language but they are not funded by the Government. Similar international schools to cater for expatriates are found in many countries including in Malaysia. Some nationals also go to these schools. But they are not like the Chinese and Tamil schools in Malaysia which are Government funded schools.
5. Even in Singapore there are no Government funded schools where the medium of instruction is Chinese or Tamil. But the students must learn another language other than English, which is the medium of teaching in Singapore.
6. Incidentally the policy of the Singapore Government to use English as a teaching medium rather than Malay, Chinese or Tamil has not resulted in it being accused of being anti-Chinese, anti-Tamil or anti-Malay.
7. Nationally the national language of predominantly Chinese Singapore is Malay but Chinese, Tamil and English are also official languages which are taught and may be used instead of English.
8. If anyone wishes to refute what I state here, they are welcome. But they must provide evidence to show that I am wrong.
http://chedet.co.cc/chedetblog/2011/01/medium-of-teaching.html#more
By Dr.Mahathir Mohamad
1. In an interview by Nanyang Siang Pau, I pointed out that there is no country in the world, except Malaysia where the Government allows and pays for schools which use a foreign language for teaching in schools meant for a community whose ancestors came from a foreign country.
2. A NSP reader claims that I was wrong because in many countries the Chinese language is taught and are spoken.
3. May I point out that there is a difference between teaching in a foreign language and learning (and speaking) a foreign language. I was referring to teaching (medium of instruction) in a foreign language not learning a foreign language. Learning a foreign language is usually not only permissible but encouraged.
4. The claim that in Thailand there are schools which use Chinese as the medium of teaching is not correct. There are International schools which do not use the Thai national language but they are not funded by the Government. Similar international schools to cater for expatriates are found in many countries including in Malaysia. Some nationals also go to these schools. But they are not like the Chinese and Tamil schools in Malaysia which are Government funded schools.
5. Even in Singapore there are no Government funded schools where the medium of instruction is Chinese or Tamil. But the students must learn another language other than English, which is the medium of teaching in Singapore.
6. Incidentally the policy of the Singapore Government to use English as a teaching medium rather than Malay, Chinese or Tamil has not resulted in it being accused of being anti-Chinese, anti-Tamil or anti-Malay.
7. Nationally the national language of predominantly Chinese Singapore is Malay but Chinese, Tamil and English are also official languages which are taught and may be used instead of English.
8. If anyone wishes to refute what I state here, they are welcome. But they must provide evidence to show that I am wrong.
http://chedet.co.cc/chedetblog/2011/01/medium-of-teaching.html#more
