It is an uphill battle against the Dual Language Programme (DLP), judging by the response at the launch of the coalition against DLP yesterday.

The meagre turnout, despite the launch being held in front of a popular mall in a busy part of Kuala Lumpur, is seen as an indicator.

Poet Pyanhabib said the DLP is actually a re-emergence of the policy to teach mathematics and science in English (PPSMI) – a policy that language activists lobbied against, until it was scrapped in 2012.

Pyanhabib believes not many realise the “dangers” of DLP.

“There are about 30 million Malaysians, not including foreign residents. But not even a million were there yesterday. Where are all the people who claim to be champions of the Malay language?” he asked.

“If we discount reporters, photographers, police and the Special Branch personnel, I would say only 50 people turned up,” Pyanhabib ( photo ) said.

Yesterday, Malay language activists, including national laureates, writers and academicians, gathered to launch the movement against DLP, which was introduced in schools this year.

They included Mohd Anwar Ridhwan, Muhammad Salleh and Baha Zain – three of only eight surviving national laureates.

Under the DLP pilot programme, 300 selected schools can opt to teach science and mathematics in English to students in Standard 1, Standard 4 and Form 1.

If the programme goes through, schools can also opt to teach information and communications technology and design and technology subjects in English, if they meet the requirements.

Schools that want to opt in have to obtain the written consent from parents and have enough teaching resources, including willing teachers.

The schools must also score at least the same as the average national scores for Bahasa Malaysia, before they can teach the subjects in English.

Staring this year, students can also opt to take public examinations for these subjects in the English language.

‘Children the victims’

Pyanhabib has personal experience with PPSMI. He said his two children were “victims”.

“My first child was taught in Bahasa Melayu in secondary school. Suddenly, when PPSMI was implemented, she had to learn mathematics and science in English and was left confused.

“My second child was in primary school, the first cohort under PPSMI. Then PPSMI was scrapped, he was also confused when he then had to learn in Bahasa Melayu,” Pyanhabib said.

He said the introduction of the DLP would make more children victims of an education policy that has not been well thought out.

Learn about DLP by clicking on the flip cards below.

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