There is no argument on the importance of English for international communication and for the acquisition of knowledge, using the books and reading materials that we have today.

In fact, in today’s world, it is useful if one knows a few other languages. It is not difficult to learn any language for informal and everyday communication. After all, one only needs to know a few hundred words in any language to be able to speak in it.

In fact, many non-Malays in Malaysia only have, at the most, 100 words in the Malay language, and yet they can still understand pretty much what their Malay friends are saying although they may not understand much of what they hear from news reports on television or talk shows that are in Malay.

But what I find strange is how some people think that by getting the primary students to study mathematics and science in English, they can improve their understanding of this language.

What if students do not like these subjects and cannot excel in it? Are they going to be bad in it? Far from it.

Most of those who speak and write well in English are those who may not necessarily be those who excel in these two subjects. Studying mathematics and science in English cannot ensure that the students can grow up to be good in the language.

I did not excel in any of these two subjects, yet, I am using this language more than the average Malaysians and have also written books.

I kept abreast with the language by watching American programmes that were shown on television because since a very young age, I had wanted to go to America to study.

English must be taught for the liberal arts subjects - not the technical ones - such as history and geography where there is a chance for the students to use the language.

And this is where they also learn about diction, pronunciation and intonation.

If this is not done, many Malaysians will end up speaking English with some strange accent that no one else will understand. Just listen to Phua Chu Kang, of the sitcom fame and see what I mean.

Ironically, those who excel in mathematics and science are the ones who are worse off when it comes to speaking in the English language. How much English can one learn if one learns it through mathematics and science which are dry subjects that do not offer much leeway for creativity?

I do not know where they got the idea that by encouraging students to study mathematics and science in English, one could master the language. Where is the proof?

Even if one gets a distinction for these two subjects, one still cannot speak in English well, as demonstrated by those who had done so for their STPM examinations and who were interviewed on television where they spoke in broken English.

Worse, their vocabulary is limited.

The study of mathematics and sciences in English does not encourage any student to expand his vocabulary of the language which can happen only if he is taught the language via liberal arts subjects where there is scope to expand.