I refer to the recent shooting down by the government of Universiti Putra Malaysia's plan to use English as a medium of instruction for all its courses (except Malay literature, Islamic studies and civics) after the usual reactionary Malay language groups deplored such a move.

They see the move as undermining the state's language policy under which Malay or Bahasa Malaysia is the dominant language. This despite the fact that Malay students and job-seekers are biggest losers by not being able to master simple English (let's not even consider fluency at this point).

Even UPM's vice-chancellor stated that the move is to meet occupational demands, which require individuals to be proficient in English. I applaud his courage in taking on the Bahasa mafia.

I have not come across one country where the local lingua franca was displaced by the use of English as the medium of instruction. Singapore's three main language/ethnic groups retain their mother tongues despite English as the medium of instruction.

New Zealand's Maoris and North American Indian tribes have likewise kept their mother tongues. Even in continental Europe, where English is not even an official language, an increasing number of countries are using English as the medium of instruction at primary and secondary schools, universities and business schools.

So English in local universities as a medium of instruction displacing Bahasa as the national language is a red herring.

The Bahasa lobby are no different from any other interest groups. Their jobs and positions in society depend on the continuation of the status quo to the detriment of the general welfare of their fellow countrymen.

So well-organised and powerful is this small, special interest lobby group that Dr Mahathir Mohamad had to water down his original plan to rectify the weakness in our National Language policy which disproportionately disadvantaged Malay job-seekers.

It's time these language reactionaries - and the politicians who pander to them - be shown to be the bigots they are.