Across the causeway, a debate is o­n about the use of English to teach the Chinese language (Straits Times, Feb 11).

This brings to mind how Bahasa Malaysia is being used to teach English in some of our schools.

These teachers have no choice but to use Bahasa Malaysia to teach English.

Their credentials are remarkable - they have TESL (Teach English as a Second Language) degrees from foreign universities! But they have difficulty writing or making a speech in correct English.

You wonder how they graduated when they don't have a grasp of simple English tenses.

There is a rumour that our Education Ministry made deals with some universities abroad to ensure that these government-sponsored students graduate, even if their command of the English language is half-baked.

It is a win-win deal for the ministry and the universities. Both have stakes in the deal.

Imagine how much business West Asia universities lost when they allowed our 7,285 Malaysian students to drop out? (The Star, Feb 7)

How I wish for a Malaysian Ombudsman to investigate the rumour about the ministry's deal.