We're trying to build schools, not terrorist camps

YOURSAY 'Like it or not, Mandarin is going to be a very important language after English. MPM should not stick their heads in the sand.'

Malay groups says Dong Zong courting trouble

Kit P: The Razak Report of 1956 and Rahman Talib Report of 1960 are not holy scriptures. They were based on assumptions made in a very different world.

It was a different time then. Anyone remembers black-and-white TVs with vacuum tubes, triode circuits and Austin Hillman cars?

Home computers and palm-sized mobile phones existed only in the wild imaginations of makers of B-grade science-fiction movies.

We now live in a world where the second largest economy on earth has Mandarin as its primary language.

Nobody is trying to deny the position of Bahasa Malaysia as Malaysia's national language. Just open up more choices for students to pursue their studies in other language mediums.

Cloudnine: We need more than one language moving forward. In Germany, France, United States, etc, a second language is compulsory and knowing a third language is promoted.

In China, the world's second largest economy, millions of Chinese are learning English. In Singapore, which has second highest income in the world, they learn English, Chinese and Malay.

Unless we arm ourselves with more language skills, we cannot compete. The Japanese, Thais, and Indonesians, who are unwilling to learn second languages, are now being overtaken.

Indon Planter: Malay Consultative Council (MPM), people are trying to build schools, not terrorist camps.

Malaysian Born: It is really embarrassing when organisations which superficially sound important start making ridiculous comments like this.

That is until you realise that the organisations are really of no consequence and do not represent any real electorate and generally should be categorised as ‘shit-stirrers' of the highest order.

The continuous reference to social contract is getting tiresome, especially when no one knows how it is even relevant in this case.

As for various government enactments and reports, these are just that, they may all be changed, subject to agreement and adequate majority in Parliament.

In this case, it is for approving what is fair but these yahoos are trying to confuse everyone.

Kgen: What social contract? There is no such contract. This term was unknown at independence and is never mentioned in the constitution.

The so-called social contract was an invention by Umno politicians in the 1980s to justify their concept of bumiputeraism.

Anonymous_3ec6: The Razak and Rahman Talib reports are not cast in stone. Changes are required as the country progresses. Education in any language is vital, so what's the big issue here?

Look at the present graduates churned out by multiple universities under the present education system, they are so unemployable other than in the civil service.

Anonymous #11028691: Let's go back to the rule of law - if under the law, there are private colleges, private universities, and the government wants to make Malaysia the centre of education, what is wrong with private Chinese schools?

The standard of private Chinese schools is much higher than the government schools, the future is even brighter, which is why they have so many students.

My Malay staff send their kids there, and with their certificates, they can enter directly to National University of Singapore, any university in the West, and any university in the East, especially Taiwan and China, which are economic powers now and in the future.

Private Chinese schools are tough. Students have to take the government examination as well as their own exams, which are of higher standard.

What they are fighting for are their rights, there is nothing racist about it. I presume this so-called NGO group is another BN smokescreen.

RA 1: Dong Zong can have independent Chinese schools provided they teach in Bahasa and have Chinese as a language subject. That's the way to go. I don't see any problem.

Unless Chinese Malaysians cannot study in Bahasa after 50 years of independence? Strange? Malaysia boleh?

Anonymous_4030: Malaysia has been independent for more than 50 years, why are the Chinese independent high schools using Taiwanese/China syllabus?

Why is it that when the Chinese migrate to Australia, United States or the United Kingdom, they never demanded for the government there to set up a Chinese school?

I still don't understand why a leading Malaysian vernacular newspaper is called China Press.

Botak Chin: Dong Zong is trying to drive a wedge further between the Chinese and other races. Why must they use Mandarin as a medium of instruction and not the national language?
It's funny how most the Chinese here talk about equality, unity and all that, but can't walk the talk on this subject.

They keep citing Singapore as an example, then you ought to be aware that Singapore doesn't use Mandarin as a medium of instruction in schools. They use English as the medium and enforce learning their mother tongue.

Don't talk about how the language is your identity as that issue does not arise. You are all Malaysians first and Chinese second. No one is stopping you from learning your language/culture. Formal education should be thought in the national and English language.

Ex-Wfw: I think both sides have not realised that the basic objective of education is to open up young minds to all options in life.

Both sides are looking at the issue based on emotion. By learning more Chinese does not make one a lesser Malaysian; though some of those who studied through this medium tend to be rather myopic but being able to adapt pretty fast, they do survive the competition.

On the other hand, the other side will not want to learn any other language, which in the practical world will only limit your options.

As it is, it has become a political agenda for vested interests to create raw emotion without caring for the global changes that are affecting our next generation.

Anonymous #07443216: MPM can threaten all it wants but it not going to work, Malaysians want to progress with the times and not be stuck and left behind by the rest of Asia and the world.

Mandarin should be recognised as the next most important language besides English, China is no doubt going to be the next superpower and richest country in Asia.

Unless Malaysia is prepared language-wise to capitalise on China as its largest trading partner, then Malaysia will lose out.

Like it or not, Mandarin is going to be a very important language after English. So MPM should buck up and stop issuing silly treats, keep abreast with the times and not stick their heads in the sand.