The opposition parties reiterated their stand on multiculturalism, rejecting unequivocally the language switch to teach Science and Mathematics in English by questioning the government's "hidden agenda" in imposing such an abrupt move.

PRM deputy president Rustam Sani said that people were opposed to the method, abruptness and insistence of the move, which has caused suspicion as to the government's real agenda.

"There seems to be a hurried move to spend the RM6 million allocation for teaching the two subjects in English," he told the 200-odd participants who attended a talk on Tamil education at the Federal Territory Girl Guides Hall in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur today.

Earlier, a peaceful march organised by Tamil-based non-governmental organisations, Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) and Malaysian Tamil Educational Research and Development Foundation (MTERDF), was held to publicise their protest over the language switch, by chanting slogans, carrying placards around Brickfields, undeterred by the presence of a small police force.

Their action has countered allegations by several quarters that only Chinese education movements such as Dong Jiao Zong were vehemently opposing the move initiated by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

No stable policy

To intensify their objections to the switch, the Tamil groups have even documented their research backed by quotes from educationists and statistics on why the two subjects should not be taught in English and how the move will impact poor children, in a booklet entitled "The Cry" which was launched on Friday in Kuala Lumpur's Heritage Hotel.

The sudden move by the government has highlighted several inconsistencies in the country's education policies since Independence.

Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh), who attended the talk, lamented on the lack of a stable education policy, direction and credible approach to train the country's future generations.

She read out her speeches made in Parliament recently, questioning the language switch, telling the participants that she met with a brick wall when she received two conflicting answers from the ministers concerned.

"In their replies, we gathered that Mahathir's justification for the language switch was to improve English. But according to the Education ministry, the move was to improve Science and Mathematics. Who is right?" she asked.

Since Mahathir announced that the move would be implemented next year despite widespread criticisms, those who opposed the policy have been threatened with preventive laws like the Sedition Act and Internal Security Act, which allows detention without trial.

Follow the piper

Another speaker, Keadilan supreme council member Dr Xavier Jeyakumar, condemned how the authorities had "systematically over the years use repressive laws and the police, to threaten people to accept government policies".

He questioned why there were no research, papers written or pilot projects before the move was implemented.

"One man decides to change the whole system. One man plays the flute and all the rats follow the tune," he said.

"At least the Chinese-based component parties in Barisan Nasional initially said no, then accepted the government's formula which the grassroots did not agree to, but the MIC agreed to it in principle immediately," Xavier sighed.

Parti Sosialis Malaysia pro tem president Dr Nasir Mohd Hashim conceded that there was nothing new in the authorities' approach to "divide and rule and manufacture consent" by threatening to repressive laws against those who reject government policies.

He said the mainstream media has "prostituted their profession" to back the government's move by labelling those who oppose it as "extremist and chauvinist".

Diverting attention

He urged Malaysians not to be drawn into Barisan Nasional's political agenda of ruling by causing disunity among the races, saying it is their tactic to divert attention from the on-going corruption and mis-governance.

Parti Rakyat Insan Malaysia pro tem secretary-general P Uthayakumar emphasised on the articles in the Constitution related to their rights to education and equality before the law.

Uthayakumar said according to the Constitution and Education Act, which has provision for the existence of vernacular schools, the government cannot simply implement new rules without first consulting Parliament.

He said the reality that 75 percent of Tamil schools were not fully funded by the government was already an act of discrimination against the Constitution.

"It is not seditious to question our rights. It is, however, wrong to say things like close down Tamil schools. Those who say this are seditious and should be arrested under the Internal Security Act," he added.

Responsibility to question

DJZ representative Tan Yoke Suan told the participants that about 1,000-odd people have gathered in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, today in a similar manner, to protest the language switch.

"This move is not supported by the majority of the Malaysians as had been portrayed by the mainstream media or by ministers. Our stand remains we need mother-tongue education for estates, Malay and Chinese villages and not for the elite group only," she said.

"If the government makes a wrong policy, it is our responsibility, as concerned citizens, to question it," she added.

GCC coordinator Charles Santiago said that the group will hold similar protests in others states such as Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah and Perak.

"We want to sent a message to the government that there is a segment of society that does not agree with its policy," he told malaysiakini .

"We also want to reiterate our support for multiculturalism which is important when we compete in this age of globalisation," Santiago added.