KUALA LUMPUR: The English debate is raging again in Malaysia - in all the country's languages.
Six years after Malaysian schools first began using English exclusively to teach maths and science, some race-based interest groups are demanding a return to the old ways.
The policy, referred to as PPSMI, was introduced by former premier Mahathir Mohamad in 2003 to arrest the decline in English standards, but many objected vehemently from the start.
Before 2003, the two subjects had been taught in Malay in national schools, and in Chinese and Tamil in vernacular schools.
The issue is being revisited following the roundtable talks held by the Education Ministry on it last year, from July to December.
Some groups said PPSMI erodes their respective languages and cultures. And politicians fear that if they support it, they will lose the support of the many rural Malaysians who say their children cannot cope with English.
On Monday, the five states under opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat united against the policy. PPSMI had dealt a blow to the 'sanctity of Malay', its executive council members in charge of education said.
On the same day, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim spoke out against the policy on his blog. The importance given to English showed that 'after half-a-century of independence, the narrow-minded colonial mentality still haunts us', he wrote.
Barisan Nasional member parties - such as the Malaysian Chinese Association, Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian Congress - have also been calling for a return to the mother tongue.
Joining them are groups such as Chinese educationists Dong Jiao Zong (DJZ) and the Federation of Malay Writers Associations (Gapena).
On Feb 15, Gapena plans to organise a protest in KL dubbed the 152 Rally after Article 152 of the federal constitution, which holds that Malay is the official language.
Eight Chinese associations, including DJZ, have urged the government to abolish the policy. Otherwise, they say they will take part in protests held by the Malay organisations.
Community opponents of the policy have been waiting for this day. It was pushed through over their objections, with the government insisting that dissenters wait for the first batch of primary school pupils to finish six years of studies under this system before passing judgment.
Last year, the six years were up. In December, the keenly awaited results of the UPSR - the equivalent of Singapore's PSLE - were announced.
But nothing was resolved, because the figures were interpreted differently by opposing camps.
'The Education Ministry says the results are better. We beg to differ,' a Gapena spokesman told The Straits Times.
The ministry noted a surge in the number of pupils who chose to do this year's maths and science papers in English - they could have done them in Chinese, Tamil or a mix of the languages - as a sign the policy was working. The number who opted to sit for the exams in English shot up by 200 times for maths and 100 times for science.
Education director-general Alimuddin Dom also told reporters that the trend was positive. Pupils were doing 'marginally better' in maths and science, and showing a 'big improvement' in English.
But Chinese educationists note that many students in vernacular schools still chose to answer maths and science papers in their mother tongue - almost 40 per cent in Tamil schools and nearly 98 per cent in Chinese schools.
Bumiputra Participation Coordination Unit acting director Zainal Abidin Che Omar singled out PPSMI as a possible reason for the drop in the number of Malay pupils scoring 5As, down 16 per cent last year compared with 2007.
Still, the policy has a quietly supportive group - the urban crowd.
Families in cities have more access to English-language materials than those in the countryside and are thus better equipped to help their children learn. Like Tun Dr Mahathir, they feel improving English is a step in the right direction.
Take part-time tutor Stephen Arokiasamy, who finds no validity in the argument that using the mother tongue helps preserve a community's culture.
'Look at the Punjabi community. The language didn't die although there is no such thing as Punjabi schools,' the 50-year-old told The Straits Times. 'This is because the community has such great love for its culture and language.'
Last month, Mr Wong Chun Wai, the group chief editor of The Star daily, urged these moderate voices to speak up. In his blog, he noted that groups opposing the policy 'claim to represent their respective communities but...many of us do not share the strong-arm tactics of these groups'.
Still, groups such as Gapena do not think their demands are unreasonable. They feel that if the government wants to raise English standards, it should increase English lessons, not use the language to teach other subjects. 'By insisting on English, you turn kids off not only English, but also maths and science,' Gapena's spokesman said.
The decision is out of their hands. Going forward, there are several choices: revert to the old system, stick with PPSMI or tweak it.
The policy is set to stay put for at least another year. Changes, if any, will not be implemented till next year at the earliest, officials have said.
Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong said last week the ministry had considered many views and the decision would now rest with the Cabinet. He added he expected a decision soon.
Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein also stood firm, saying the push by various groups to scrap the policy would not affect the Cabinet's decision. He said 'the ministry will not budge', adding 'the decision depends on the views of all quarters - not just certain groups'.
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