Deputy Education Minister Aziz Shamsuddin today accused Chinese education movement, Dong Jiao Zong, of being "prejudiced" in its opposition to the government's move to use English to teach Science and Mathematics.

Aziz said the government has not restricted the use of mother tongues, be it Mandarin, Tamil or other languages since Independence.

He said the government wanted the people to be multi-lingual to develop the country, adding that the decision to re-introduce the use of English in the two subjects was made by the people as they have elected the government of the day.

"We should not be accused of being political. Yes, the government is political, we want to give our best to the people," he said, in a press conference at the Parliament lobby.

"We are not dictatorial, if we do not care for the people, then the people should rise up against us but we care for security...don't get mixed-up with narrow thinking," he added.

Disastrous for Chinese schools

Yesterday, Dong Jiao Zong reiterated its opposition to the use of English to teach Science and Mathematics, and in the UPSR examination for these subjects from 2008.

The movement said that this would be a "disaster" for national type Chinese schools.

Dong Jiao Zong is the collective name for United Chinese School Committees' Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) and United Chinese School Teachers' Association of Malaysia (Jiao Zong).

Dong Zong president Quek Suan Hiang said the movement could not accept the move as it would ultimately spell the end of Chinese schools in the country.

Speaking after a meeting between the two bodies, Quek said the different statements from ministers and leaders had "blurred the situation" beyond comparison.

Dong Zong also released a statement, saying it was disappointed that an education issue had become a "political issue".

It said the decision made by the Barisan Nasional supreme council was not only against the norms and principles of education, but also against the wishes of the people.

Bucking trend

The movement said while it fully supported the government's stand to improve the standard of English, the move contradicts the worldwide trend of education development which strives for "diversity, democracy and higher access to education".

On the 2-4-3 formula decided by the BN supreme council, the movement said it put pressure on education as English, Science and Mathematics take up 78 percent of the total teaching time.

Meanwhile, Aziz said the movement fostered the belief that their mother tongue was in danger of being diminished as its management was interested in protecting its position and its own ethnic group.

He said the 'prejudice' against the government's effort must stop.

"They (members of management board) must show that 'I am working for my race'.We understand...we know their land and buildings are funded by their own ethnic group. We didn't say we are going to take those away," he said.

"They (movement) must be aware of the ground feeling. Many of my Chinese Malaysian and Indian Malaysian friends tell me that the move is good," he added.