PAS launched its nationwide 'save the national language' campaign and distributed more than 10,000 pamphlets in Kuala Lumpur today.

The campaign is in opposition to the government's decision to teach Science and Mathematics in English for Standard One, Form One and Lower Six students in all schools starting next year.

The move evoked strong objections from various education movements who are keen to preserve the mother-tongue teaching medium in vernacular schools.

PAS vice-president Dr Hasan Ali, Youth chief Mahfuz Omar, central committee members Dr Hatta Ramli and Dr Lo' Lo' Mohd Ghazali together with some 50 members from their party and ally Keadilan distributed the pamphlets in Jalan Masjid India.

Also present was DAP national publicity chief Ronnie Liu.

Several police personnel monitored the group but did not interrupt them from distributing the pamphlets.

Counter perception

Speaking to malaysiakini later, Hatta said the campaign aims to counter the perception portrayed by BN leaders and the mainstream media that only Chinese education groups are rejecting the switch.

"We gather at this Malay area today and we want to tell the government that not all Malays agree with the government's decision to use English in teaching the two subjects as portrayed by the mainstream media," said the PAS leader, who is also the party's language action committee head.

Asked if there is a possibility they will join forces with the others who oppose the switch, he replied: "Eventually it would be so. Every group is moving now, this is an open activity and we invite our friends from different communities."

Hatta said some 500,000 pamphlets have been printed and will be distributed throughout the country, the next stop being Johor.

The pamphlet said the Malay language is the language of knowledge, communication and unity. It added that the importance of learning English should not undermine the national language.

Citing several reasons, the pamphlet urges the government to retract the policy.

Stand together

In a his speech earlier, Hasan said the switch contravenes the national philosophy which acknowledges the Malay language as the language of knowledge.

The PAS education bureau chief criticised the government for proceeding with the policy despite the objections and for threatening those who oppose it with the Internal Security Act and Sedition Act.

"We stand together with the Chinese and Indian communities and we want our mother tongue to be retained in the education system," he stressed.

One of the vocal opponents to the move, is the influential Chinese education group Dong Jiao Zong. Their leaders have been branded as 'extremists' and 'chauvinists'.

On Sunday, two Indian-based non-governmental organisations Group of Concerned Citizens and Malaysian Tamil Educational Research and Development Foundation held a protest in Kuala Lumpur against the switch.

The two organisations have also published a booked titled ' The Cry ' which says the switch can have an adverse impact on the poor.

Lost cause

As the pamphlets were distributed this afternoon, a group of men chanted, 'Save the national language'.

Among them was 47-year-old businessman Mohd Razani Mohd Nor who said: "This is an interesting campaign that will remind the younger generation the importance of the national language," he said.

In a related development, Deputy Education Minister Abdul Aziz Samsuddin described the campaign as a lost cause as it will not be able stop the implementation of the new policy.

The deputy minister, who was asked to comment on the campaign, added that PAS will not be able to prevent students from learning the language.