I cannot agree with the stand by the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (SCAH) that the teaching of Science and Mathematics should not be in English. The government had made the right decision in implementing the use of English for teaching Science and Mathematics. Our nation's progress in Science and Mathematics has a firm foundation if we get all our young scientists in primary and secondary schools learning these subjects in English. They need to start from young.

We have to face the fact that cutting-edge research in medicine, sciences, engineering and mathematics are done in English. The main medium of communication is English among the top researchers in these areas. Nobel Prize winners in the sciences are mostly from the USA and UK. We could make more advances in sciences, medicine and engineering if we stick with English. If not, we would most likely lag behind.

The Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall and other Chinese groups should not feel that the importance of Mandarin would be challenged with this language switch. In fact, I knew Malaysia had done it wrong when we used Bahasa as the medium of instruction decades ago.

I am not saying that Mandarin is not important. I know too well the importance of Mandarin as the medium of commerce in China. I did not get to learn Mandarin when I was in primary school and I had to learn it quickly to do business in China. I feel Malaysians are lucky in that most know Mandarin, English and Bahasa Malaysia. Let us stick with this diversity of languages in Malaysian schools. They are definitely good for Malaysia.

It is time for the Chinese groups to abandon their quest on this language issue.