Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Rais Yatim yesterday came under fire from several quarters for issuing another threat to use the law against "minority groups" opposed to the teaching of Maths and Science in English in all schools.

Among those unhappy with Rais' remarks was human rights organisation Suaram, which also questioned Rais' "grossly simplistic view" that the essence of democracy simply meant that the voice of the majority would prevail.

"The threat to use sedition laws...is incredulous given the fact that it was spoken in the same breath with his 'essence' of democracy. Sedition is an anti-thesis to the ideas of democracy," said Suaram coordinator Eric Paulsen in a press statement.

According to newspaper reports yesterday, Rais said the "essence of democratic processes" should be put to work following recent developments over the English language issue which, he claimed, were due to the government "listening too much" to the minority.

Last week, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the language switch would apply to all schools although he allowed four opposing Barisan Nasional component parties to come up with an alternative implementation method for Chinese primary schools.

No comment

Meanwhile, asked if the warning by Rais was also directed at Chinese-based BN parties, Gerakan deputy president Kerk Choo Ting refused to comment.

He also declined to say if Rais' statement was an indication that the parties may face difficulty convincing other BN component parties to accept the alternative plan for the language switch.

Met by reporters at Parliament yesterday, Deputy Education Minister and MCA central committee member Hon Choon Kim also declined comment.

The four parties MCA, Gerakan, Sarawak United Peoples' Party and the Sabah Progressive Party had proposed for a continuation of mother tongue instruction of Maths and Science in Chinese primary schools. However, this was to be complemented by additional periods for the two subjects to be taught in English as well.

Objections ignored

Suaram also expressed concern over the coverage of the issue in Malay language newspapers which gave the impression that only the ethnic Chinese was opposing the language switch.

"There are also massive objections from the Malay and Indian communities, which the Malay newspapers chose to disregard completely.

"We urge the Malay media to stop playing up racial sentiments in manufacturing unreal racial disagreement," Paulsen said, adding that such deliberate slant appears to be aimed at providing the government grounds for the use of the Sedition Act.

However, editors for Malay language dailies Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian were unavailable for comment.

Meanwhile, Chinese educationist Bock Tai Hee also disputed Rais' interpretation of "minority voices", saying that sections of the Malay Malaysian population were also opposed to the sudden move to change the language of instruction for both Maths and Science.

"Not only are a majority of the Chinese community opposed to it, so are sections of the Malay community. Rais should not threaten people with the laws," said Bock, the chief executive officer of Dong Zong, a national Chinese school association.

Bock said the Chinese education movement's opposition came from its observation that there was no problem with the current teaching system of the Maths and Science in Chinese primary schools.

"We do not have a problem with teaching our students and our results (in the two subjects) are good as well," he said.

In response to the government's aim to improve English language proficiency among students, the Chinese educationists had agreed to the teaching of English as a subject from Year One in Chinese primary schools.

However, they objected to the government's plan to achieve its goal by changing the language of instruction for two technical subjects.

This is not the first time that the Chinese education group had been warned by the government over its unwavering opposition to the language switch.

Previously, Rais had also threatened to use the Internal Security Act against Chinese educationists labelled as 'extremists', if they are found to have jeopardised racial harmony in the country.

Gov't responsible

In a separate statement, DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang said the government instead should be held responsible for creating a "most divisive national issue" in the form of the language switch.

"Such controversy and division are most unnecessary as there is national unanimity about the urgent need to restore English proficiency in schools after three decades of sharp drop in standards.

"The dispute and difference is not on whether English proficiency should be raised but whether the compulsory use of English to teach Maths and Science, particularly in Chinese primary schools, is educationally sound and will serve the objective," he said.

According to Lim, the better results in Maths and Science in Chinese primary schools compared with national schools, is the best proof of the soundness of the educational approach of mother tongue educationists.

"Malaysians are still waiting for the Education Ministry to come out with sound and convincing reasons to justify the compulsory use of English (in Maths and Science) from Year One," he added.