Republic of virtue 7/09

Relegated to a Pekan Rabu economy? PDF Print
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Thursday, 09 July 2009 03:09

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Politically, literary figures championing the teaching of Maths and Science in Bahasa Melayu are themselves well-versed in the English language and have used it to their advantage. Intelligentsia they are and intellectuals they necessarily are not.

Azly Rahman
http://azlyrahman-illuminations.blogspot.com/2006/11/93-our-rempitised-education-system.html

We are reverting to teaching Maths and Science in Bahasa Melayu. With the eroding emphasis of English Language, are Malays going to only flourish in their Pekan Rabu-type economic enclaves, and being one with their universe of ketuanan Melayu? Since the language of science is still English, will future generation going to be doomed to become consumers of scientific ideologies still orchestrated by the Western industrial powers? Will we continue to see only a class and caste of English speaking Malaysian scientific, economic, political, and cybernetic elite controlling the less-fluent Malay-speaking mass happy with their mastery if understanding Malay-language tabloids? Will literacy in Malaysia only mean one's ability to only read or be interested in reading Malay Language materials? Fundamentally, what will be the long-term consequence of Malay nationalism in this over-glorified but under-reflected world of globalized economies in which the English Language is still king of linguistic pop and multinational corporations still roam the word in search of indentured slaves paid an American dollar a day?

These are difficult questions for any country dealing with the complexity of teaching this or that subject in the English Language. Rather than dwell on the problematique and the semiotic of linguistic turn in the pedagogical complexities of this lingua franca, let us explore these questions and propositions concerning the switch (again) in the teaching of Maths and Science.

1. Educationally, are teachers "not competent" and confident in teaching in English because they are not willing to work hard in improving themselves? Malaysian educational system is partly based on the English schooling system in which the residual effect of English-mediumed school still being felt. The Malaysian environment is an English-language rich environment. Billboards, TV shows, print, digital, and broadcast media are rich in English as well. Code-switching is prevalent. Anglicization of the Malay language happens all the time. With the informal and hidden curriculum of the English language in operation, why are our teachers still incompetent?

We pamper our teachers too much. Our teacher trainers in education faculties need to work harder in instilling the "skills of surviving as a teacher" in their training programs. Radical strategies in teacher training need to be designed; one that will put English language as the center of importance.

2. Economically, our open society has installed landscape of economic domination in the English Language. English-speaking corporations -- from Sime Darby way back then to Halliburton way down in Johor -- dominates the country. These corporations keep scientific and technical secrets not in Bahasa Melayu, Mandarin, or Tamil but in the English language. High level negotiations on how to best profit from the functional yet limited-English speaking cheap labour Malaysia is offering happens in the English Language, in the boardrooms of hybridized English-sounding cities such as Cyberjaya, nestled in meaning-less installations with names such as "The Multimedia Super Corridor" or "The Iskandar Development Region". Just like the Malay mind being perpetually being colonized by Malay tabloids and junk newspapers, through Malay-only proficient devotees of ketuanan Melayu ideology, the Malaysian economy of the future will be one whose class of people will be controlled by those who owns the means of ideological and corporate capitalist production from abroad; the exploitation facilitated by English speaking modern little brown brothers. We continue to become yes-men and women to international robber barons we install as this or that members of International Advisory Panel of this or that corridor raya.

3. Culturally, we will only prepare our youth with the ability to merely consume fetishes and crumbs of artifacts of the global corporate cultural industry; products that are imitations of a copy of a copy of a copy of cultural artifacts mechanically produced devoid of any sense of authenticity. Hence while Britain got talent and America creates idols through their useless shows, Malaysians, primarily through the Malay-speaking Akademi Fantasi and Malaysian Idol and other copy-cat cultural constructions of the most perfect imitations of fetishes, become clones of low-brow culture. The mastery of English of our previous and current generation of youth is so poor that only the "hedonistic and edutainmenistic" aspect of the English language is mastered and happily embraced, rather that the "humanistic, revolutionary, liberating, and supra-nationalistic" aspect of it. Elsewhere I have written about the need to master the English language so that we will not become slaves to technological domination but become masters of our destiny through our close reading of ideas of from English writers who opposed all form of colonialism. Gandhi, Jomo Kenyatta, Nyerere, and even those who overthrew the British empire found inspiration in writings such as The Magna Carta, Discourse on Inequality, Walden, and Das Kapital.

4. Ideologically, the English language is more progressive than Bahasa Melayu in terms of promoting revolutionary change. Too much emphasis on the artistic and literary aspect of the Malay language may turn the Malays into more close-minded people, given that the Malay language through its complex yet discernible style of addressing, over-glorifying of court language, overemphasis on indirectness of presenting points of view, and overindulgence in maintaining the psycho-narrative Master-slave and oppressive style of speaking and writing -- all these are anathema to the egalitarianistic nature of the English language. Sit in any speech presented by a Malay-speaking ADUN and one by say, an American community leader. Compare the style and opening remarks and one can see the way language play manifests itself. While the English language speaker do not waste time on going around making a point, the Malay style will make sure that the audience are put to sleep with a roundabout way of overpraising this or that person, laced with inappropriate jokes at time. Over-indulgence in matters of respect for politicians (however unworthy of respect many should be accorded with) in many an occasion such as in school ceremonies is a mark of the abuse of the Malay language.

5. Politically, literary figures championing the teaching of Maths and Science in Bahasa Melayu are themselves well-versed in the English language and have used it to their advantage. Intelligentsia they are and intellectuals they necessarily are not.

Intelligentsia are not those who have the intelligence in intellectualizing the role of the intelligentsia but those who have been institutionalized by the ideologues who failed to intellectualize their role as implementers of intelligent policies.

By sending a message to the younger generation that the English Language is of lesser importance and one need to take to the streets to do that, the case for encouraging the mastery of this lingua franca is closed. Blind nationalism, confusion of the role of promoter of language, and submission to the will of this and that ideology of ketuanan this or that, and most importantly over-reliance on questionable university-sponsored research findings on the root cause of failure amongst schoolchildren vis-a-viz the teaching of Maths and Science in English -- all these become foundations of the straw-man arguments of the Bahasa Melayu nationalists. Their missionary work in discouraging the mastery of a language that will help us struggle against neo-colonialism is preposterous yet pervasive, plunging the proletariat into yet another pool of Prozac-ed people fit to be pawns in this post-industrial game of predatory global politics of production.

Again, as in many analysis of Malay dilemma, Malays are sucked into yet another black hole of dehumanization and intellectual despair -- this time through an over-indulgence in their own language that has very little philological, epistemological, and ontological bearing to the language of Science, Mathematics, and Scientific and Technological Application. Our youth will be well-versed in singing English songs they hear from gangsta, punk rock, heavy metal, or even thrash metal and bhagra combined. Their next level of achievement will be sending short messages in broken English and working hard for a slot in Akademi Fantasi and Malaysian Idol -- while the Malay Language nationalist celebrate their victory on the streets again, as aging intelligentsia.

In a globalized world, we will prevail as a nation of Pekan Rabus, selling pirated copies of Michael Jackson's Thriller.

OUR USUAL REMINDER, FOLKS:
While the opinion in the article is mine,
the comments are yours;
present them rationally and ethically.

AND -- SET ALL I.S.A. DETAINEES FREE]

Comments (18)Add Comment
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written by schizonoid, July 09, 2009 03:53:22
It's a political decision, nothing to do with education. BN will sacrifice anything to stay in power.They prefer the rakyat remains under the coconut shell than be clever and challenge their positions.
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written by educationist, July 09, 2009 05:58:51
"In a globalized world, we will prevail as a nation of Pekan Rabus, selling pirated copies of Michael Jackson's Thriller." - perhaps this is the government's intention.
But read that to include the PKR and PAS , too.
Once these two opposition parties threw their weight behind opponents of the English policy, yesterday decision was a foregone conclusion.
So, we'll soon have a new minority class of citizens: those who are proficient in English who will not need to sell pirated copies of Thriller in our Pekan Rabus.
Then there are the rest , complacent under our MaLaysian tempurung trading in our Pekan Rabus.
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written by batsman, July 09, 2009 07:47:56
Pekan Rabu economy better than Lorong Chow Kit economy.
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written by technoboy, July 09, 2009 08:29:31
After 52 years in power UMNO/BN government still HP6, TDM you are right, you are also part of this so called HP6 regime!
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written by NSTPravda, July 09, 2009 08:36:58
Relegated to a Pekan Rabu economy?

Wah azly, you insult kampung ku lah...
Pekan Rabu economy is doing fine without too much interference from kafirs-lah?
Why use proton when we have the reliable kerbau...

Semua-nya OK!
smilies/smiley.gif smilies/wink.gif smilies/grin.gif smilies/tongue.gif smilies/cool.gif
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written by freerpk, July 09, 2009 08:41:36
In a democratic country the majority decides for the country, so if the people(majority) wants BM for Maths & Science then let it be. That is how democracy works. This does not mean that the majority always makes the right decision.
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written by shamsulyunos, July 09, 2009 09:02:46
hey I think you should take your Shizo and shove it up your Noid,
as pointed by Educationist, PKR and PAS was the loudest voice oppsing Maths and Science in English, calling Hishamuddin every conceivable name and organising all manners of rallies and gatherings in their effort to label the Govt as traitor to the Malay cause...

Sinc ethe voice is so loud, the Government made way for the people even tough they feel it is better to stick with Maths and Science in English... I mean the thing is the result for now is not looking good but this is the sort of thing that you ahve to keep at and be persisitent with for at least 10 years before results start showing

But hey since PKR and PAS is playing the sort term game, lets see if it will get us anywhere

thank you PKR and PAS
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written by temenggong, July 09, 2009 09:03:24
The one good thing Mahathir tried to do was washed away. Truly a sad day for malays, which ramifications to the next generation is of catastropic proportions, given the ever escalating rapid changing state of global affairs. The intellectual gap between the malays and non malays is now going to leap geometrically.
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written by chiongguo, July 09, 2009 09:24:09
freerpk wrote :

In a democratic country the majority decides for the country, so if the people(majority) wants BM for Maths & Science then let it be. That is how democracy works. This does not mean that the majority always makes the right decision



I believe surveys had shown that majority wanted the subject to be taught in english.

The decision was certainly a political decision. No reason was given by the minister for the decision.

I would have expected that there will be changes - comprehensive changes - done to the policy so that the good can be accentuated and the bad mitigated. After all the ideas and proposals and feedback, which made me wonder if the minister actually read them and thought about it, all he did was to change the policy without giving any justification or reason.

So easy. No need to think and he can move on to more "important" things. So why collect feedback-lah ?

Policy formulation and adjustments needed time - to reflect, to study, to test - all very hard work.

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written by Hakim Joe, July 09, 2009 09:34:11
Sometime in the future….

English Teacher: “Ah Kow, lead out loud prom satu to sepuluh in England.”
Primary Student: “Want, Too, Tweei, Pour, Pie, Seek, Javen, Egg, Line, Lend.”
English Teacher: “Bagus!”

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written by asguard, July 09, 2009 09:38:14
Malaysia will be like indonesia ...where more than half of its cizitens can't speak nor write proper english...is that path that they wanted to followed? Well, have closer look at indonesia...and you will get clear picture... of its policy of teaching, and where it go wrong! Needless to say that malaysia is following that path, then next disaster strikes... just how do you wanted to do business with foreigners (i mean not indonesian!) of another nationality whom don't even speak the bahasa? While not good in english?
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written by Rhan, July 09, 2009 10:10:28
I don’t know which survey shown that majority wanted the subject to be taught in English.

Can we rephrase the survey question to “If our M&S teacher can’t communicate in English, shall we teach M&S in English?” and look at the result again?

Most teachers need good training and learning to improve language. Who is going to train all this teacher if the only thing this qualify personnel care about is how much USD he make?

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written by alarcarte, July 09, 2009 11:16:11
Those in the B.N camp got chicken out by PR's pressure and therefore abolish the teaching of Maths and Science in English. Now the PR is trying to score political points by "hentam UMNO cukup-cukup" in this regard. In the 1st place it was this PR boss who suggested abolishing teaching Math and Science in English.

Pordah! You politicians out there, especially the P.R leader! All of us old enough should be able to remember what the PR leader trying to do to the Chinese National type schools when he was in UMNO.

Do you all think that he has changed? The only credibility he has now may be he is not tainted with corruptions charges yet.

Competency in English Language will not disappear from Malaysia totally, but from now on it will only confine to the Children of the Politicians, Ministers and the urban middle class.
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written by oneofthesedays, July 09, 2009 13:01:57
Don't know what the big deal is about.

My kids go to Chinese school and there they are taught science in Mandarin and in English.

Oops the Chinese educationists were supposedly opposed to Math and Science in English too.

Nevermindlah it'll be our little Chinese secret. Advantage is everything mah.
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written by qwerty, July 09, 2009 14:19:17
Just like Pak Kadok...

Menang bersorak, kampung tergadai!
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written by renoir, July 09, 2009 14:56:55
After teacher-training I taught, from the 60s to mid-70s, in the Malay-medium before transferring to a national-type school. Though I loved my national-type school, some of my best memories came from teaching, almostly exclusively, Malay children. Now most of these children were from, obviously, Malay-medium primary schools. Yet I could take them from their small-town school to the KL National Museum and asked them to write a page, in English, on what they felt about the exhibits. Not all the papers were great, but at least a couple of essays were better than my niece's "critique" on Chihuly's glass exhibit held at a Midwestern university, where she was a second-year architecture student (this took place a decade later).

While I'd taught these secondary students for two or three years - mostly in English - credit must be given to their basic education and perhaps social environment. In short, the teachers they had during primary school were well-trained, and in those days these students knew that without diligent study they were not going to pass and no well-paid jobs would be waiting for them.

Learning in BM will not necessarily mean becoming less educated, or even result in an inability to learn English. What's needed are good teachers who could provide strong foundations for education, with just enough challenges and incentives for students to excel in whatever field they're interested in, whether English, maths, or science.
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written by chelly, July 09, 2009 23:49:59
personally i have no beef with maths and english being taught in bahasa malaysia, well japan and germany uses their own language,but in retrospect they have a flourishing translation culture,almost every book thats brought into their country is translated, even tv shows and movies are dubbed into their language, what we need to do is to crack the whip on DEWAN BAHASA AND PUSTAKA, make sure they translate all the books, science or maths or whatever.then only can we say that we have martabatkan bahasa kita.
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written by ultraman, July 11, 2009 08:45:07
Azly,
You got to be practical. Our present crop of teachers are 4th grade graduates who are unemployables. So how do you expect them to improve themselves. A vast majority cannot speak English at all.
Do you expect charcoal to be transformed to diamond in a short space of time.
Not on,y are they poor in English, many of them are not of teachers materials.
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