Generally, Malaysian students and adults have poor English communication skills worsened by their poor vocabulary. The apparent solution is to get them to read. Hence the need to encourage Malaysians to go to the library is pretty obvious especially at the school level.

The other move that the government should immediately take is to lower the prices of books. Relative to the average salary earned in Malaysia, books (besides cars and properties) are incredibly priced. Compare our prices with Thailand, Indonesia or India and you notice the marked difference of books being 30% to 70% higher here.

My English friend says our books here are monstrously priced. Being a rated developing country with immense respect from the rest of the world, I cannot comprehend the fact that books here are among the costliest in the world. Why? Where is the rationale?

I wish someone at the education and finance ministries can initiate steps to rectify this situation.

I also wonder why our academicians have been so quiet on this subject. Shouldn't they be the custodians and champions of this crucial issue in the attainment of Vision 2020?

Let's face the truth. Our English have deteriorated to unprecedented and crisis levels. In this era of globalisation, if this is left unchecked, would lose a lot of business opportunities as English is the language of the day. In fact our graduates would be disadvantaged significantly compared to their peers across Asia who are giving exceptional emphasis to English directly.

For example, do you notice the confident flair of the Thais, Taiwanese and even Indonesians when they speak English today? Where were they 40 years ago?

Each time in Malaysia when the vital issue of the mastering of English language crops up, our politicians are not in unity. Why? It reveals that either they are myopic or they are like the proverb 'ibarat katak di bawah tempurung'. Sadly, the victims will be their own children (those who don't attend foreign or international schools) and the future generations.

Let's stop politicking for the sake of politicking. Our nation and children's future are in your hands.