National language agency Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) has blasted leading Chinese education group Dong Zong’s demand for multilingualism to be adopted in the national education policy as “chauvinistic”.

NONE At a press conference after launching the institute’s action plan today, DBP director Awang Sariyan ( right, in green ) listed chauvinism as one of the rising challenges to Bahasa Malaysia, against which he said the institute must stand its ground.  

“It is already good that we are living in a country that enjoys multi-stream education.

“Should Dong Zong ask for Chinese language to be made on par with Bahasa Malaysia as the medium of instruction, that is unconstitutional,” Awang said.

He urged Dong Zong, or the Association of United Chinese Schools Committees, to recognise the Education Act 1996 that places Bahasa Malaysia as the main language for education.

'Multilingualism will create disturbances'

“Can’t they see what had happened after years of implementing PPSMI (Teaching of science and mathemathics in English)? If they are going ahead with multilingualism, it will create disturbances,” he said.

Echoing his colleague’s statement, deputy chairperson of the DBP board of governors Md Salleh Yaapar called the demand “weird” and said the constitution does not promote multilingualism in education.

However, Awang stressed that his remark was not racial, as he had no qualms about Dong Zong making efforts to strengthen the teaching of Chinese within their means.

“There is no question about the status of Chinese language globally, but in the context of this nation, Bahasa Malaysia should be the main language,” he said. 

NONE Asked about Dong Zong’s request for more Chinese schools and Chinese independent schools to be built, DBP expressed disagreement.

Awang said he was of the impression that Chinese schools were allowed to expand on their current premises, but not grow in numbers.

“We should instead reinforce national schools and strengthen the Chinese language through this platform,” he said.

In his speech earlier, Awang said accompanying the rising challenges to Bahasa Malaysia was the fading of nationalism which is evident through the low respect for the national language.

“Attempts by certain quarters to continue to wither Bahasa Malaysia as a competent language, including in the field of knowledge, can be clearly seen.

“The lack of literary treasury in various fields of knowledge and information for all segments of society will make it tough for the rise of a great civilisation,” Awang added.