Amend Education Act, repeal one-language policy, 2.3.2007.

Amend Education Act, repeal one-language policy, 2.3.2007.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw proposes that the Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin table an Education (Amendment) Bill, to explain that the Final Solution of having only one language is no longer useful in the present circumstance in Malaysia.

Dr Tan refers to Hisham's statement in his interview with Sin Chew Jit Poh on 2 March, 2007, that the Chinese society should no longer be worried about the Razak Report (1956).

Yesterday, the Education Minister told Sin Chew that it was impossible for the Government to implement Razak Report that stressed 'one stream of (school education)' and the 'National Language becoming the main medium of teaching' in the 'Final Solution'. This was because this concept was no longer suitable for use in the present circumstance in the country.

He added that building more Chinese schools was no longer a sensitive matter, that Chinese society needn't worry about it and that time would prove his sincerity.

The public pay attention to his statement, wanting to know whether Hisham is as good as his words. Realising the impracticability of the Final Solution is a start.

The systematic eradication of English in schools from 1970 was part of the Final Solution. By the early 80s last century, English in schools is history.

On the other hand, the standard of the National Language has not risen as expected. The quality of all 62,000 teachers of BM must be raised.

The Final Solution of the 1956 Razak Report has serious consequences. Besides doing away with English in the policy, Clause 21(2) of the Education Act, 1961, gives the rights to the Education Minister to convert National-type Chinese or Tamil schools to National schools. The Education Act, 1996, emphasizes the target of creating a world-class education without mentioning the unsuitability of the Final Solution in this country.The Education Development Blue Print (2006--2010) overlaps with Tan Sri Musa's Education Development Plan (2001--2010). This puzzles Malaysians. It does not say that the Final Solution is out of date.

Now, the media carry mainly good news, creating a conducive atmostphere. The people deserve to know truly good news, but not the false ones. We hope that Hisham's encouraging words are not only meant for people to feel good.

If the Education Act is not amended to repeal the Final Solution, then the Government will be able to continue to take drastic action against people who believe in multilingual education and multi-streamed schools. For example, in 1987, the Government used the Internal Security Act to detain 107 people, including Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng, Karpal Singh, Lau Dak Kee, the late P. Patto and I.

The Home Ministry prepared eight trumped-up charges against me. Two of the charges concerned the Final Solution. One charge was: On March 6,1983, while delivering a speech at a function in the vicinity of a temple at Jalan 6, Kampong Valdor, Sungai Bakap, Penang, you accused the present Government of practising a one-language, one-culture policy that could lead to Islamic rule in the future.

The allegation was groundless. I did mention the 'One Language, One Culture' policy that was in the 1982 Royal Address in parliament.

The other charge was: On October, 11, 1987, at a gathering of Thean Hou Temple, Kuala Lumpur, you used the issue of promotions of headmasters and senior assistant teachers without Mandarin qualifications to national-type primary Chinese schools to provoke the racial feelings of the Chinese.

This was a completely false allegation. I did go to Then Hou Temple, but I did not use the issue at the said venue to fan racial feeling among the Chinese.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw