Two Tamil education and social groups who handed over a memorandum at the Prime Minister's office are hopeful that the government will postpone implementing the language-switch in the teaching of Science and Mathematics, at least for Tamil schools.

Six representatives of Malaysian Tamil Education Research and Development Foundation (MTERDF) and Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) gave the document to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's senior assistant Mohd Shafiq Abdullah in Putrajaya this morning.

MTERDF pro tem president M Manogar said the meeting convinced them that the prime minister was "not briefed adequately" on the opinions of the Indian Malaysian community before the policy was decided.

"Mr Shafiq asked we why we did not channel our views to MIC so that the party could raise the matter (within Barisan Nasional). We told him that we had (done so), but that those who claim to represent the community did not explain (to BN) our views about the policy.

"We were promised an appropriate response from the PM's office...we are hopeful that the PM will stop the implementation of the language switch after he understands our memorandum," said Manogar at a press conference held in the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Kuala Lumpur.

He said Shafiq also told them that all Malaysians, including all Malays and most of the non-Malays, had come to accept the language switch as something good for the country.

Wider rift

The memorandum argued that the switch may exacerbate poverty, create higher drop-out rates in Tamil schools, worsen social ills, and intensify the unequal distribution of wealth among Indians as well as other ethnic groups.

The four-page document was endorsed by 10 other education and social groups including Malaysian Dravidian Association, Malaysian Indian Youth Council, Academy of Tamil Studies, Malaysia Tamil Neri Kalagam, Suaram Pulau Pinang, and Port Klang Hindu Youth Organisation.

Others were United Chinese School Committees' Association Malaysia (Dong Zong), United Chinese School Teachers' Association Malaysia (Jiao Zong), Tamil Education Development Foundation of Perak, and Malaysia Democratic Student and Youth Movement (Dema).

Outraged by statement

GCC co-ordinator Charles Santiago said the organisation was "outraged" by an Education Ministry statement that teaching aids such as computer facilities would not be given to schools with less than 150 students and those not built on government land.

"It exposes the hidden biases of the authorities against Tamil schools and violates the principle of the right to education and development," Santiago said.

"Tamil school children are citizens and must be accorded the enabling resources and environment towards developing their full potential as a matter of human right and constitutional dictate."

He added that 60 percent of more than 520 Tamil schools would be affected by this discriminatory policy.

Insufficient resources

Santiago said the policy also indicated that the ministry did not have in place the necessary infrastructure and finances to implement the language switch.

Jiao Zong vice-chairperson Loot Ting Yee, who was present at the press conference, commended the two groups which had submitted the memorandum.

"It is brave for them to say 'No' to the prime minister's decision which will have adverse effects on all of us. We are in the same boat and if one of us sinks, all will sink together," said the veteran educationist.

He said Mahathir should have resigned immediately after conceding that the country's education policy over the past two decades had failed.

"Many national leaders also acknowledged that our education system is in a mess. The prime minister should be responsible for what has happened, but instead he is messing up the system further," he said.

Loot said since the government was convinced that the Malays have accepted the language switch, it should then consider implementing the new policy in only national primary schools which use Bahasa Melayu as medium of instruction.

When the new school year begins on Jan 6, Year One in all primary schools both national or national-type which use either Chinese or Tamil as teaching medium will teach Mathematics and Science in English.

The move sparked strong protests among the Chinese and Tamil education community, which fears this could weaken the performance of students and alter the vernacular characteristics of the schools.