The continued implementation of the policy to teach Science and Mathematics in English led a veteran Chinese educationist to question Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's sincerity in wanting to listen to the people.

"The Second Malay Education Congress revealed that half a million Malay students might be sacrificed if the policy of teaching Science and Mathematics in English continues.

"Did Pak Lah (as the premier is popularly called) ever hear the truth? The government just ignored it and sacrificed the students. Can we support such a government?" thundered Loot Ting Yee ( photo ) to a resounding applause.

The influential vice-president of the United Chinese School Teachers Association of Malaysia (Jiao Zong) was speaking at the fifth anniversary fund-raising dinner organised by the Save Our School (SOS) Damansara committee in Petaling Jaya last night.

Loot argued that the policy of using English and Chinese to teach Science and Mathematics in Chinese-type national schools was part of the government's strategy to eventually change the medium of teaching in these schools.

Teaching Mathematics and Science in English, he added, does not help students master English and this also affects the learning of the two subjects.

If this is continued, he warned that it will sacrifice the students and damage the country's future.

"If we do not 'explode', then we will die in silence," he said, eliciting another round of applause from the audience.

The government implemented the new policy in 2003 to improve the proficiency of English among students. The move was met with vehement resistance from vernacular educationists.

More than RM200,000 raised

Themed 'Seeds of Hope Solidarity Dinner', last night's event was attended by more than 2,000 people, including representatives from Indian and Malay non-governmental organisations, from all over the country.

More than RM200,000 was collected at the dinner for the operating cost of the self-sustained school situated at a temple beside the original SJKC Damansara, which was relocated by the government amid strong protest in 2001.

SOS Damansara chairperson Yong Yoke Sung said the overwhelming response proved that the people still supported the cause.

Meanwhile, another prominent Chinese educationist Dr Yap Sin Tian spoke on the obstacles surrounding the building of new Chinese-type national schools (SJKCs).

"Although the international and domestic environments are changing profoundly, the education policy in Malaysia is still very conservative.

"The building of new SJKCs is still difficult. SJKC Damansara is still closed under this situation," added the deputy chairperson of the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong).

Yap said Dong Jiao Zong and other Chinese guilds and associations are also cautious about the government's new initiative of teaching Chinese and Tamil in national schools as second languages.

He added that Chinese educationists will ensure that no teacher from SJKCs are transferred to nationals schools for this purpose as the former is facing an acute shortage of teachers.

They will also hold a campaign to inform Chinese parents that SJKCs are still the most effective medium for learning and understanding Chinese culture and tradition.

Students stage drama

Yap also touched on the possibility that the original SJKC Damansara building could be demolished since its neighbouring land titles have been categorised as high-density residential areas in the latest Petaling Local Development Plan.

Opponents have accused the government of closing the school to make way for commercial development in the area.

Also present were Dong Zong chairperson Quek Suan Hiang, Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall chairperson Bong Hon Liong, DAP MP Teresa Kok and DAP state assemblyperson Teng Chang Khim (DAP) as well as Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) information chief Tian Chua.

During the dinner, students also performed a drama on the struggle of the SOS committee, which saw the crowd breaking into a thunderous applause.

After the relocation of the school, the committee was formed by disgruntled parents and supporters. They refused to move and continued lessons in air-conditioned containers in a neighbouring temple.

The makeshift school now has a total of 51 students, 11 teachers and one headmaster - all of whom refused to be relocated to another SRJK along with 1,400 of their colleagues.

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