KUCHING: Just ignore the various anti-English groups that go under many disguises, said a political analyst Datuk Peter Minos.
He stressed that doing so is not undemocratic but a true endeavour towards progress and survival in the modern English-based world.
“Malaysia has had enough of the nonsense from the anti-English groups who have been pulling Malaysia down and in fact destroying our chances for a better and improved life and future.
Minos said he cannot really understand why some Malaysians are dead against the teaching and learning of science and mathematics in English (Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Sains dan Matematik dalam Bahasa Inggeris — PPSMI) while some do not like English at all.
“This is ‘stupid’ thinking as our late chief minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem had commented,” stressed Minos.
Minos added that it was considering that English is the undisputed global language of knowledge and information, science and technology, information technology and computers, of law and agreements, arts and literature, of diplomacy and governance, the businesses and economy and many vital facets of modern life.
“We need English, so to speak, like the air we breathe and the water we drink. English is so indispensable that the absence or the lack of which retards not just national and personal progress and development but also making life both hard and difficult.
“If I had a say, I wish that the government not only pushes PPSMI ahead but also reintroduces English as Malaysia’s medium of instruction, as it once was,” Minos said.
He pointed out that one of the big reasons why Malaysia is still far, far behind nations like tiny Singapore and big multi-lingual Canada was most Malaysians’ command of both written and spoken English was sub-standard and even poor.
He added that Malaysia made a big national mistake in 1971 by casting English aside as it is now paying a heavy price for it and all in the name of nationalism and/or patriotism.
“It is never too late even though our milk had already been spilled,” said Minos.
He said it would not be easy in terms of getting competent teachers but English must be brought back in one way or other.
However, having said all of the above, Minos said Bahasa Malaysia should not be ignored as a school subject as it is the language of national unity and domestic communication.
“But English is a must for us to become more progressive and economically advanced, and for us to catch up with the rest of the developed world.
“If not, sorry to say, Malaysia will forever continue to remain as a mediocre and a perpetually developing nation that can never be developed. That, to me, is the reality and one that we cannot escape,” he said.
