Three main Chinese component parties in the Barisan Nasional (BN) have reached a common stand to retain the mother-tongue in teaching Science and Mathematics in Chinese primary schools, putting them in a collision course with coalition partner Umno.

MCA, Gerakan and the Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) have unanimously agreed that the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English should start from the secondary school level, said MCA vice-president Ong Ka Ting.

"Our preliminary stand is that the standard of English must be improved first and that this should start from improving the teaching of the English language from standard one in primary schools," he was quoted as saying by Sin Chew Jit Poh today.

Ong who is also housing and local government minister, said the three parties reached the consensus after two meetings held over the past two weeks.

According to him, the last meeting was presided by MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik while Gerakan deputy president Kerk Choo Ting and SUPP deputy president Law Hieng Ding represented their respective parties. MCA education bureau members also attended the meeting.

He said MCA will also discuss the issue with another two BN Chinese component parties Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to obtain their views on the matter.

Don't politicise issue

"We hope the issue will not be politicised by anybody. It should be discussed from an academic and objective perspective and this may require a lengthier study.

"MCA has made known its stand to the cabinet and other BN Chinese parties have also voiced their views. That the government did not include Chinese primary schools [for the first stage of its proposed implementation], is to allow the Chinese component parties more time to discuss the issue," he added.

The report also contained SAPP's objection to the language medium switch.

Meanwhile, Umno Youth has insisted that the government should not exclude Chinese primary schools in the language switch next year.

Its information chief Azimi Daim was quoted in Utusan Malaysia today as saying that the objections raised by Chinese educationist groups should not happen if they understand the purpose of the new move.

The groups that he referred to are United Chinese School Committee Association (Dong Zong), United Chinese School Teachers' Association (Jiao Zong) and the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall.

Azimi said Chinese students have many other avenues to learn and practice their culture since they spend more time at home than in school.