The government is finding it tough to get Chinese primary schools to participate in a computer demonstration at a mass gathering next week, seen as it is as a veiled attempt to show there is support from the Chinese community on the use of English to teach Mathematics and Science.

It was reported in Chinese newspapers on Wednesday that the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur education department had asked four schools to each send three students to demonstrate an English-language software for the two subjects before Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Oct 9.

This presentation is part of the programme at the 'Thank you, Prime Minister' gathering organised by the Federation of Malaysian Chinese Guilds and Associations and coordinated by Mahathir's Chinese adviser Matthias Chang.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to turn up at Stadium Bukit Jalil next Wednesday to praise Mahathir's leadership, and be feted with a fireworks display, dances, cultural shows and other attractions.

Demo may not proceed

Federation president Liew Poon Siak refused to elaborate on the matter beyond stating that the invitation to the four schools had since been cancelled.

He was not sure if the education department would invite other schools instead, but said there is a possibility that the software presentation may be called off if the 'technical preparation' could not be completed by next week.

Asked why the demonstration was proposed, he said "the gathering was to thank our prime minister for his great leadership and effort to promote the knowledge-based society and we thought Dr Mahathir will enjoy a performance by children".

Liew, a veteran leader who has been active in various Chinese organisations, found himself in the spotlight within the community after he publicly served Mahathir special tea at a national day celebration as a show of piety.

Free PCs

Meanwhile, the administration of the four schools invited refused to comment on the matter when contacted earlier.

The four are SJKC Chong Fah Phit Chee, SJKC Jalan Imbi, SJKC Kung Min and SJKC Chin Woo.

Sources close to these schools however said they were reluctant to participate in the presentation despite being offered 20 new computers for free.

The schools were said to be worried that their participation may been seen as an endorsement to the language switch which was introduced by the Umno supreme council in late July and has since sparked off strong protests from various education groups and academics.

At the height of the controversy, the government warned that it may invoke the Internal Security Act against those suspected of fanning racial sentiments using the language issue.

'Good news'

When contacted, the United Chinese School Committees Association Malaysia and United Chinese School Teachers Association Malaysia, collectively known as Dong Jiao Zong, described the cancellation of the invitation as "good news".

Dong Jiao Zong deputy president Dr Yap Sin Tien said since more than 50 major Chinese organisations have signed a joint declaration to oppose the language switch, Chinese schools should not get involved in any attempt to weaken the stand.

"It is clear that the organiser is trying to lure the Chinese schools into being seen as accepting the switch indirectly using the computers," he said.

Yap said his organisation had neither contacted nor asked the schools about the invitation they received.

"They have the right to make their own decision. Whatever they do, the public shall be the judge of their actions," he said.

There is still much confusion over the implementation of the controversial language-switch proposal.

On Tuesday, Education Minister Musa Mohamed said the implementation will go ahead in Standard One, Form One, and Lower Six as scheduled next year though a decision regarding whether this will include vernacular schools is yet to be made.

However, Musa's deputy Abdul Aziz Samsuddin said yesterday that the language switch will include all types of schools except those which do not have proper facilities and constitute less than 10 percent of the total.

Mahathir is today reported to have said that the government has yet to make a final decision on the matter and it is still considering the views from various groups.