James Wong Wing On's almost exhaustive list

of opposition groups objecting to the switch in the medium of instruction from Malay to English for Mathematics and Science, missed out a big, powerful but hitherto silent group.

They are the public servants which include the civil services, army, police and teachers, writers, performing artistes and others who speak only or mostly Malay, daily.

The language change is sending them an uncomfortable message — that after 45 years of getting along with just one language, they too may need to acquire new language skills.

The 'official support' for the language switch is in doubt. I suspect many affected people are also worrying in silence how the change in importance of language will affect their expectations and career choices.

That they may feel a sense of betrayal is not an understatement. Especially, when they hear that 'goodies' are being handed to selected groups in the new linguistic venture. What have teachers of English, Maths and Sciences — in comparison to teachers of Malay, Chinese, Tamil, history, geography, etc. — done to deserve more in cash and kind?

If computers and projectors are effective as teaching aids — even if it is unsure if they can replace good teaching and good teachers — why are other teachers not provided with the same?

Is this not outright discrimination against subjects and their teachers? The thoughtlessness in such carrot-and-stick campaign or essentially high-handed political methods, to promote English teaching will arguably not go down well with teachers.

The older ones who survived the switch to Malay almost three decades ago will testify to this. They probably are also comparing the effectiveness of such new gadgets to the tried and discarded educational TV programmes. Teachers and their unions, parents and the parent-teacher associations, will have a long time arguing...

Sadly, all these may result in a poor performance of every subject involved. The current crop of school heads and teachers were all recruited to teach in Malay and will certainly resent this.

The attempts by Umno and its controlled-media to distract the issue into one of 'Chinese challenging the Malay political preeminence' is also pathetic. The threats to use the ISA, Sedition Act, etc. is uncalled for as the Chinese educationists movement is not initiating anything to challenge Malay Malaysians but merely concerned for the students' welfare.

Nevertheless Wong is quite observant in pinpointing the many opposition voices to the language switch — including even those championing the use of English simply because they don't feel comfortable with the government's sledgehammer way in killing just a chicken. What they wanted was the right way to promote a good command of English which nobody in their right mind is opposing in today's globalised world.

Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is also wrong to demand an end to the discussion when so many people are still against the move. All their frustrations, reservation and resentment will probably show up in the next general election.