The results of the language switch policy will take years to show and it should not be scrapped just because a 'minority' opposes it, said Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Teaching Science and Maths in English was the brainchild of the former prime minister. Implemented in 2003, the policy aimed to improve students proficiency in the English language.

However, critics, namely vernacular educationists, claimed that the policy was introduced as part of the government's plan to phase out vernacular schools.

They also alleged that the performance of students was affected by the switch.

On Saturday, more than 600 groups and over 4,000 individuals gathered in Kajang to ask the government to review the policy.

Asked to comment on this, Mahathir replied: "This policy should continue because in everything you do there will be a minority who will not be happy".

As for the claim that it was affecting academic performance, he said: "We have only started, how do you know?"

It will take years before the effects can be seen, he added during a press conference yesterday.

Four-point resolution

At the gathering, organised by Chinese education movement Dong Jiao Zong, participants endorsed a four-point resolution.

The resolutions urged the government to intensify English lessons in schools, review the negative effects of the policy, revert to teaching the two subjects in mother tongue and urge all political parties and groups to support mother tongue education.

The resolutions were passed unanimously through a show of hands and will be submitted to the authorities soon.

Speakers at the convention had cited several reasons to ask for a review including the claim that Malay students had suffered the most in the policy due to inherent weakness and insufficient planning.

The Education Ministry has maintained that the students have benefitted from the policy.

The language switch was implemented for Year One in all primary schools. In Chinese schools, however, a 2-4-3 formula was applied - two periods for English, four for Mathematics and three for Science each week.