MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik today gave his assurance that examination questions for Science and Mathematics in Chinese primary schools will be in the Chinese language.

Ling, who is also transport minister, said this during a two-hour meeting with 20 Chinese school headmasters led by the National Association of Chinese School Headmasters president Kang Siew Khoon at the Transport Ministry office in Putrajaya.

"The minister (Ling) said he fully agreed with our view that the examination papers for the two subjects should be in mother-tongue and mother-tongue o­nly.

"He also promised to make sure that this view will be respected by the Education Ministry," said Kang when contacted.

The headmaster welcomed the assurance from Ling, saying that this was necessary to ensure that the characteristics of vernacular schools were not altered.

He said Ling also promised to look into the shortage of teachers in Chinese primary schools and "work out something with the Education Ministry".