Chinese Mother Tongue Education

I observe that in the recent UMNO divisional AGM, many divisions have passed on a resolution calling for the Government to either abolish SRJK (C) or to stop the construction of new SRJK (C) schools. This is an old issue often used by politicians from both political divide to make them look great and good.

In the MCA AGM, Education, especially in mother tongue education is a sure hot topic. Politicians must not forget that freedom of education and the right to study mother tongue education is enshrined in the Constitution. Blaming Chinese education for disunity sounds like a desperate politician unable to understand the underlying cause of disunity in a multi racial country.

Opposition like any opposition party of the world is there to discredit the Government. Unfortunately UMNO politicians seem to take the bait, like hook line and sinker. Mother tongue education will not be an issue and the opposition will have no opportunity to exploit it if the Government gives adequate, equal and fair treatment to the Chinese education without neglecting Bahasa Melayu. It is only the naive that believes a singular education system will create unity in Malaysia.

I thought Malaysians are always proud of our strength in diversity. 57 years after independence, we seem to lay the blame on diversity and a bilingual education system as a root to our disunity among the ethnic groups. 15% of the Chinese school enrolment comes from Non-Chinese and the percentage is increasing everywhere. Are you saying parents are not sensitive to their children’s needs? A parent is most concerned about their children’s education irrespective of their social status. They want the best for their children.

There are many examples in the world that in a mono ethnic country with same religion and mother tongue but they are the most disunited people. In these countries, opposition do not come from a single ethnic group; there are deeper issues involved in disunity, on which I do not wish to go into detail.

So, hopefully some UMNO divisional leaders will wake up, this issue will not bring any benefit, both to the party and in the General Election. It is the intolerance and refusal to accept the different stream of education that causes us more ethnic tension. If some UMNO leaders does not wake up to today’s political reality in Malaysia, UMNO and BN will miss the train and start the blame game. Progressive and competitive nation should encourage its citizen to be multilingual but unfortunately, some politicians just ignored the elephant

in the room. They choose to get the 5 minutes publicity.

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我发现在最近召开的巫统区部大会上，许多的巫统区部通过议决，促请政府废除华小或停止兴建新的华小。这其实是朝野政客惯用的老调，他们无非是要借此来逞英雄。

在马华全国代表大会，教育课题特别是谈到母语教育，始终是一项热门的辩题。从政者必须谨记，享有自由教育和学习母语教育的权力，是我国联邦宪法赋予和保障的。归咎于华文教育导致人民不团结，显然的失意政客根本不了解，在多元种族的国度里，到底什么才是造成不团结的原因。

我国的反对党，就和全世界的反对党一样，目的就是要抹黑政府。不幸的是，巫统的政客似乎竟然也采取这种伎俩。如果政府是公平、合理和适度的对待华小，而同时又没有忽略国语，那么母语教育将不会成为课题，反对党也就没有机会加以利用渲染。只有天真无知的人士，才会认为单一语文教育才会促进全民团结。

我想全体马来西亚人都会对我们拥有的多元特色感到骄傲。独立57年以来，我们好像一直把多元和多语教育制度，看成是造成不同族群无法团结的根源。目前华小有15%的学生是非华裔，而且这个比率还往上升。难道你认为父母对子女的需求不甚在意吗？任何的家长，不管他们是怎样的社会背景，都是非常关注子女的教育，他们要给孩子最好的一切。

世界上有一些国家，虽然它们是单一种族，而且是相同宗教信仰和同样的母语，可是他们却是最不团结的民族。在这些国家里，反对党并不是来自某个单一的族群。实际上国民不团结有许许多多的远因近由，不过我不愿在这里详谈。

所以我希望一些巫统的区部领袖能觉悟，这样的课题对党和大选，都不会带来任何的好处。其实就是因为无法容忍和拒绝接受不同源流的教育体系，才导致族群之间的关系紧张。如果一些巫统领袖还不能认清今时今日大马的政治现实状况，那么巫统和国阵将会丧失时机，最后落得互相指责的地步。

一个进步和更具竞争力的国家，是应该鼓励她的子民掌握多种语言，遗憾的是许多政客却不愿面对和接受事实，而只是选择沉醉在短暂的自我宣传。

Merdeka in a Multiracial, Multicultural and Multi-religious Malaysia

We are happy that all Malaysians celebrated 57^th anniversary of Merdeka. Looking back, we have done well especially in physical and economic development. One must admit that it is not easy to govern a multiracial, multicultural and multi-religious country like ours. It is a fine-balancing act of catering to the needs and sensitivities of all races. Unfortunately, not many Malaysians are aware of this or only pay lip services. Hence, race and religion continue to be a hot topic. It is unfortunate that often such extreme views are given a lot of space in media. Hence, it is a bad news of race and religion that seems to get all the unwanted prominence.

All Malaysians must accept the fact that we are entitled to our own freedom of expression, our thoughts and opinions but once this infringes the right of another individual, then we are actually crossing the boundaries of freedom of expression. Anti-Malay, anti-Chinese bashing or any form of religious bias should be history and not a daily-stapled diet of any rightful minded Malaysian.

The economic transformation program launched by the Prime Minister seems to bear fruits. From 2010 to 2014, Malaysia has achieved better economic growth than most other Asean countries. One must not be lured into complacency as Indonesia and the Phillipines are fast catching up with Malaysia. Economic growth must also generate employment, equal distribution of wealth, reducing the income gap between the rich and the poor without sacrificing the environment. While we welcome FDI, Malaysia should continue the policy of economic liberalization, coupled with training of more talents and reducing talent leakage.

We should continue to attract investment that has multiplier effect so that all Malaysians will have a feel good factor. Political, racial and religious rhetoric and tension at times will not help our attempt to attract FDI and also in retaining talents. Of greater concern is the education system where the standards of English, Maths and Science seems to go downhill. While we may be aware of it, but we lack the political will to relook at the whole education system. The standard of education system has not tallied with the nation’s growth.

Teaching Maths and Science in English

I have been told that the government has reverted to using Bahasa Melayu to teach Maths and Science in national schools and mother tongue in vernacular schools. At the same time, the Ministry of Education would strengthen the teaching of English, both in primary and secondary schools.

Of course we welcome the decision, which is what MCA and a lot of Chinese parents hope for. Of course parents in the urban area may be disappointed since they want to continue to use English in the teaching of Maths and Science.

With this decision, we hope that the Ministry of Education and parents should then move forward in ensuring that their children do not neglect Bahasa Melayu and English. All Malaysians should be multilingual. We should not be a monolingual race knowing only one language. In a highly competitive world, command of languages is an added advantage. English is today an international language. The Ministry of Education should meanwhile improve the teaching infrastructure of English in both primary and secondary schools. Steps should be taken to overcome the shortage of qualified English and Mandarin teachers. One of the solutions is to employ contract teachers who are trained to teach English and Mandarin.

Since the new policy will be implemented in 2012, I hope that the scrapping of the policy would not affect the students and their studies.

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拿督斯里蔡细历医生文告

（吉隆坡8日）马华署理总会长拿督斯里蔡细历医生欢迎政府恢复母语教授数理科，但也希望这项政策不会成为国人学习和掌握多种语文的障碍。

他说，母语教育固然重要，但也不能忽略英语和国语的掌握。目前，大部分华校生面对英语和国语掌握差强人意的问题，而削弱他们的就业和竞争条件。

蔡细历今日发表文告说，以母语教授数理是马华长期以来的要求，也是马华向来的立场。

他说，在城市地区的一些父母或许感到失望，因为他们都支持、也希望继续推行英文教数理。

“这也证明政府重视和愿听取众议和要求。教育部长丹斯里慕尤丁早前也公开接受各造的意见，加以研讨才向内阁寻求定案。”

蔡细历强调，长远之计，教育部、校方和父母要重视孩子多种语文的学习和掌握。因为激烈的全球自由化市场重用多语人才，而我国人民身长在多元化的国家，应该要善用此有利条件，学习以精通多语，而非成为单一语文的族群。

他说，与此同时，教育部必须采取步骤，包括考虑增聘合约英文和中文老师，以解决国内英文和中文师资不足的问题。

他补充，由于政府在2012年才恢复使用母语教授数理科，当局必须确保在过度阶段的现有学生不会受到影响。

A response to comments made by Association of Graduates from Universities and Colleges of China, Malaysia

I am given to understand that the chairman of the Association of Graduates from Universities and Colleges of China, Malaysia has commented over my blog posting. One should not be too emotional over this issue and regard it as a Chinese issue. It is an education issue that involves 2 countries, Malaysia and China.

When I was the Minister of health, I persuaded the Cabinet to recognize Nanjing University, Beijing University and Shanghai University’s courses in traditional Chinese medicine. This is to ensure that Malaysian Chinese who are trained in these 3 universities can then practice alongside western trained medical practitioner. This is important to give recognition to a lot of Chinese traditional practitioners in this country and would lay the groundwork if we develop an integrated hospital combining western and traditional Chinese medicine. Today, I am proud that there are traditional Chinese medicine unit in Putrajaya hospital and Kepala Batas hospital.

It was also during the time of Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Ting and myself as Minister of Health that we persuaded the Cabinet to recognize Chinese language degree from Beijing University and Tsing Hua University.

Whether or not the government recognizes the degree from Chinese universities, Malaysia students will continue to go to China to pursue their education. If the university is well known, students don’t have to worry about their recognition. They can work anywhere and be accepted. There are a lot of Malaysian Chinese having degree from China doing very well in Malaysia and other parts of the world. Do not turn an educational issue of recognition into a racial issue.

Meanwhile, leading universities in China is unlikely to set up branch campus in Malaysia because I understand that the Chinese government does not allow it. In China, there are also restrictions in the number of student intake into leading universities.

Currently, I’m helping two private institutions to set up two branch campus from China in collaboration with local universities. Accusing me that I do not think from the perspective of the Chinese community, I leave it to the Chinese to judge me. Whatever it is, I am not emotional in looking at problems from a narrow racial angle.

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马来西亚留华同学会会长陈志成针对我在部落格一文中其中一项论点作出批评。

（我在该文说：多数大马华裔对投身公共服务领域无兴趣，因此承认或不承认中国大学文凭并不是重要的事）

我认为，承认大学文凭是一项牵涉马中两国政府的教育课题。我认为，各造不该情绪化来看待有关课题，更不应该把它视为华社课题。

我担任卫生部长期间，成功说服内阁承认南京大学、北京大学及上海大学的传统医药学位，目的是确保在这3所大学修读中医药课程的马来西亚华人，回国后可以和本地的西医相辅实践。这项突破对国内中医师而言，是一项重大的肯定和认同，并且为我国日后推广中西医结合医院的努力奠立基础。今天，我为布城和抛甲峇底两家医院设有中医部感到高兴和骄傲。

此外，马华前总会长丹斯里黄家定在位期间，我与黄总也成功说服内阁承认北京大学及清华大学的中文系学位。

政府承认中国大学文凭与否，我国学生仍纷纷赴华深造。若所选择的是众所周知、声明显赫的大学，学生无需多虑，因为他们在任何地方都被接受。事实证明，许多留华的大马人在国内甚至海外各国都有优越的表现。因此，不要把文凭承认的教育问题，化为种族课题。

与此同时，据我了解，中国的顶尖大学来马设分校的可能性不大。据了解，有关计划必须获得中国政府准许。而且，中国顶尖大学的收生学额也有所限制。

目前，我也在协助中国两所私立教育机构与本地大学建立合作，在马来西亚设立分校。因此，说我不站在华社立场设想的指责，我交由华社判断。

不管怎样，我坚持不以狭隘和情绪化的种族角度来看待教育问题。