Barisan Alternatif (BA) parties and the Chinese education movement, Dong Jiao Zong, will work together to explain to the public why they are opposing the government's education policy on English as the teaching medium for Science and Mathematics.

In a surprising move, BA and Dong Jiao Zong said they will extend the invitation to Barisan Nasional's Chinese-based party MCA, which is believed to be not very happy with the government's move.

Keadilan vice-president Azmin Ali said that the public must be informed on the matter as it is very important in order "to save the future of Malaysian children" because the new education policy is likely to affect the students' academic performance.

"In principle, BA and DJZ will be working with any quarters who share the same view on the matter," Azmin told a media conference after a two-hour meeting between leaders of the two groups in Kajang today.

Keadilan, PRM and PAS leaders have also expressed their support for the influential Chinese education movement and will go all out to deliver their message to the masses even though they risk arrest under the Internal Security Act (ISA) which allows detention without trial.

"This issue is not only confined to the ethnic Chinese and its implications are enormous," Azmin added.

United on issue

In today's meeting, Dong Jiao Zong was led by the vice-chairperson of the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong), Dr Yap Sin Tian.

Azmin added that the meeting between the two groups clearly shows that Malaysians of different races are united on the issue and it is therefore not right for Umno to label the Chinese associations which are opposing the government's move as "extremists".

Yesterday, PAS Youth leader Mahfuz Omar led a delegation to discuss this issue with Dong Jiao Zong.

PRM secretary-general Dr Sanusi Osman, who was also present, said it is very important for the opposing parties to carry out the roadshow to explain the matter despite the ISA threat.

"This is because education is a big agenda that must be understood by all.

"Thus, we cannot compromise on this," he said.

Earlier, in the same media conference, Keadilan President Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail challenged Education Minister Musa Mohamed to expose the findings of any studies on the effectiveness of English as a teaching medium for Science and Maths.

"Malaysians have the right to know who have been commissioned to carry out the research, where it was done and what sort of methodology used," she said in response to Musa's statement yesterday that the plan will be implemented regardless of whether BN component parties agree to it.

Additional burden

Wan Azizah said that, on the contrary, there are studies from other parts of the world which proved that it was easier for children to be educated in their mother tongue.

PAS representative, Dr Dzulkifli Ahmad said that teaching Science and Maths in English will add to the burden of students in rural areas, who are known to be weak in Science, Maths and English.

On the government decision to include Chinese primary schools in its new policy without listening to BN's Chinese component parties, Dzulkifli said this shows that the government is undemocratic.

Last week, Musa had stated that the decision will not be made until the non-Malay component parties in the ruling BN front have given their feedback.

Indian-based MIC has since agreed to the new education policy.

Both BA and Dong Jiao Zong have requested the government to revoke its decision and stop threatening opposing parties with the ISA.