Mohd Solihan Badri of Corporate Communications Unit, Education Ministry argued that through their respective languages, students will be able to understand their teachers better. He also quoted Article 152 of the Malaysian Constitution which ensures the freedom to teach and learn in other languages, including English, Chinese or Tamil.

Inadvertently, both his arguments supported the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English, ie, PPSMI.

This is because there is a sizeable number of our citizens who are comfortable speaking in English. It has become the mother tongue of their children and grandchildren, who are Malaysians of various races and diverse background.

Though not officially recognized, they are everywhere. One can hear these parents conversing with their children at the pasar malam and supermarkets, in rural and urban areas, along as in the corridors of Putrajaya or the interior of East Malaysia.

A court ruled recently that it is within the constitution to teach both these subjects in English. Moreover, the Education Act 1996 supports that pupils are to be educated in accordance with the wishes of their parents, as pointed out by Page.

The government must not deny this group of Malaysians who want their children to learn Science and Mathematics in English. A good many pupils themselves also desired the same.