Tuesday 24 February 2009

We urge GMP to adopt our three demands

(Press statement by Suaram Johor – 21-2-2009)

The introduction by the UMNO-led BN government of the compulsory use of English in the teaching of Mathematics and Science in primary schools since 2003, has caused widespread dissatisfaction among the people, and has been vehemently opposed by civil society organizations of the various communities as well as political parties upholding the interest of the people.

Such policy has been implemented for the past 6 years. The BN government declared a trial run of the policy for a period of 5 years, after which all examination questions will be set in English by 2008. Whether the government will continue to implement the policy would depend on the results of the UPSR examination. The Ministry of Education had convened a total of 6 roundtable meetings to seek public opinion. There is no indication from the government that the policy will be revoked after 6 years of its implementation.

Gabungan Mansuhkan PPSMI (GMP), a coalition formed on January 13 by some Malay cultural groups, called for the revocation of the compulsory use of English in teaching Mathematics and Science in primary schools.

This goes to show that not only the Chinese and Indian communities vigorously oppose such policy, but the Malay community, by reason of their own practical experience, also realized that such policy is unreasonable, and detrimental to the development of the nation as well as the language and education of every community. As a result, the Malay community has also decided to oppose such policy.

The current development also indicates that the struggle of the people of various communities for their right to mother tongue education in primary and secondary school levels, and the position taken by them in the struggle for the survival and development of the mother tongue education are reasonable and appropriate beyond any doubt.

The formation of GMP and its activities illustrate that discontent among the Malay community towards such policy has galvanised them into an organized force. They must make it clear that their ultimate objective is to revive the use of mother tongue of each community in the teaching of Mathematics and Science. the national language (the Malay language) is not to replace English as the sole medium of instruction.

Only by way of stating its stand and approach with certainty, can the doubt or anxiety of non-Malay communities be removed, and only then can unity be forged and a formidable force of the people of various communities be developed, with a view to achieving success in the common cause of doing away with the policy of using English for teaching Mathematics and science in primary schools


Unease over narrow Interpretation of the Federal Constitution by GAPENA

On February 15, the chairperson of the Gabungan Penulis Nasional (GAPENA) Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dr. Ismail Hussein lodged a police report at Brickfield police station, alleging that, by way of implementing the teaching of Maths and Science in English, the government has contravened section 17(1) of the Education Act 1996 (which provides that the national language is the main medium of instruction in all educational institutions in the National Education System, other than a national-type school exempted by the Minister); Article 152(1) of the Federal Constitution (which says that the national language is the Malay language, provided that no person shall be prohibited (otherwise than for official purpose) from teaching or learning other languages); and Article 152(6) of the Federal Constitution (which provides that all education programmes and courses run by the ministry of education come under “official purpose”) [Note: A careful perusal of the Federal Constitution shows that the provision is worded differently]. Dr. Ismail claimed that more police reports by branches throughout the nation will be made.

On the following day, i.e. 16 February, GMP in a media statement, fully supported the action and approach of GAPENA. The chairperson of the GMP Dato Dr. Hassan Ahmad (former director of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka) appealed to the people to join them in a mass assembly comprising 100,000 people, scheduled to be held on March 7 . The assembly is to advocte the abolition of the policy.

We would like to express our doubt and unease over the objective and stand of the GAPENA, which might imply that, upon the abolition of the teaching of Mathematics and Science in English, the national language (the Malay language) would be introduced as the medium of instruction for the teaching of Mathematics and Science in schools of various streams of education, instead of using their respective mother tongues. In other words, the Chinese and Tamil schools, like the national schools, have to use Malay as the medium of instruction for Mathematics and Science.


To revive the use of mother tongue in teaching Mathematics and Science

Suaram JB and Friends of Suaram (FOS) express their doubt and anxiety over the citing of Section 17(1) of the Education Act 1996, the narrow interpretation of Articles 152(1) and 152(6) of the Federal Constitution by GAPENA, and the support it received from GMP. We sincerely urge GMP to work on the basis of mutual respect for the cultural rights of all communities, and to agree to revive the teaching of Mathematics and Science in the mother tongue of each of the various streams of education.

Malaysia is a multi-ethnic country. Each community is entitled to equal treatment. All ethnic minorities, including the Chinese, the Indian, the Kadazan-Dusun, the Iban etc, should each have the fundamental right to teach in and learn its own language.

We strongly advocate the revival of the use of mother tongue in teaching Mathematics and Science, that is , the use of Chinese as the medium of instruction in Chinese schools, and the use of Tamil in Tamil schools. When conditions allow, even the other ethnic minorities (such as Kadazan-Dusun and Iban), should have the opportunity to receive education in their mother tongue.


Equal Treatment for All Ethnic Minorities

Any education system and policy advocating forced assimilation (that is, not natural assimilation) of any ethnic group is not in conformity with the fact that Malaysia is a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country. We hope the people of all ethnic communities will sincerely and jointly work for the right to mother language education for all.

We vehemently oppose any national cultural policy advocating “dominance of the Malay culture to the exclusion of the cultures of other ethnic communities”. Similarly, we are strongly opposed to any education system based on a single culture and language.

In the present age of globalization, a complete review of our education system for the purpose of embracing the notion of pluralism, openness, freedom and progress is desirable. We need an education system that provides well-rounded education for all individuals, an education that caters for social needs, an education that nurtures innovation, motivation and skill-learning among students.

We are against manipulation of education as a means of subjugating others. The Education Act 1996 fails to provide fair treatment for the Chinese, the Indian and other ethnic minorities in the development of their respective mother tongue education.

To enhance the support for the revocation of the use of English in teaching Mathematics and Science, and to clear the doubt and anxiety of ethnic minorities, we hereby urge the GMP to include the following three basic demands in the Memorandum submitted to the Ministry of Education on 4 August 2008:

1. To revoke forthwith the policy of using English for teaching Mathematics and Science in primary schools.
2. To revive the use of mother tongue for teaching Mathematics and Science in all primary schools.
3. To respect the fundamental right of all communities to receive mother tongue education.


The memorandum was endorsed by 53 organizations comprising cultural and educational groups, alumni, youth organizations and political parties. 6 of the organizations are Indian-based. They are the Malaysian Tamil Education Research & Development Foundation、Persahabatan Semparuthi Johor, Parti Sosialis Malaysia, Persatuan Artis Tamil Malaysia Negeri JOHOR, Persatuan Tamil Neri Malaysia, Persatuan Teksi dan Kereta Sewa India Johor; while 14 of the organizations are Malay-based. They are Dewan Pemuda PAS Negeri Johor, Teras Pengupayaan Melayu Johor, Yayasan Amal Malaysia Negeri Johor, Persatuan Ulama Malaysia Negeri Johor, Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam SeMalaysia (GAMIS) Zon Selatan, Angkatan Muda Keadilan Negeri Johor, Ikatan Mahasiswa Islam Johor, Jabatan Amal Malaysia (Johor), Kelab Usahawan Muslim Johor, Parti Keadilan Rakyat Johor, Parti Rakyat Malaysia, Persatuan Silat Kalimah Johor Bahru, Pusat Aduan Rakyat Zon Kempas, Sekretariat Silat Kalimah Antarabangsa (SKA).

We reaffirm the recognition of Malay as the official language (the national language) as well as the common language of all ethnic communities, but we do not approve of the approach adopted by the BN government, or any political party, organization or individual in suppressing the right of non-Malays to develop their own language, culture and mother tongue education, in the name of upholding and promoting national language (the Malay language).

Due respect must be accorded to the language and culture of each ethnic minority, and the development thereof. The multi-ethnic culture of each community should constitute an important part of our cultural heritage. A harmonious atmosphere ought to be created for the co-existence and co-prosperity of all ethnic communities.



Friends of Suaram
Suaram Johor
21 February 2009


Press statements in other languages:
Malay - SUARAM JB Menyeru Gabungan Mansuhkan PPSMI (GMP) Menerima Tiga Tuntutan Utama
Chinese - 大马人民之声(新山支会) 吁请“废除英语教数理联盟”(GMP)接纳三大诉求

Article:
Surat Balas daripada GMP/Response from GMP

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工委会议决:将徐袖珉除名

人民之友工委会2020年9月27日常月会议针对徐袖珉(英文名: See Siew Min)半年多以来胡闹的问题,议决如下:

鉴于徐袖珉长期以来顽固推行她的“颜色革命”理念和“舔美仇华”思想,蓄意扰乱人民之友一贯以来的“反对霸权主义,反对种族主义”政治立场,阴谋分化甚至瓦解人民之友推动真正民主改革的思想阵地,人民之友工委会经过长时间的考察和验证,在2020年9月27日会议议决;为了明确人民之友创立以来的政治立场以及贯彻人民之友现阶段以及今后的政治主张,必须将徐袖珉从工委会名单上除名,并在人民之友部落格发出通告,以绝后患。

2020年9月27日发布



[ 漫画新解 ]
新冠病毒疫情下的马来西亚
舔美精神患者的状态

年轻一辈人民之友有感而作


注:这“漫画新解”是反映一名自诩“智慧高人一等”而且“精于民主理论”的老姐又再突发奇想地运用她所学会的一丁点“颜色革命”理论和伎俩来征服人民之友队伍里的学弟学妹们的心理状态——她在10多年前曾在队伍里因时时表现自己是超群精英,事事都要别人服从她的意愿而人人“惊而远之”,她因此而被挤出队伍近10年之久。

她在三年前被一名年长工委推介,重新加入人民之友队伍。可是,就在今年年初她又再故态复萌,尤其是在3月以来,不断利用部落格的贴文,任意扭曲而胡说八道。起初,还以“不同意见者”的姿态出现,以博取一些不明就里的队友对她的同情和支持,后来,她发现了她的欺骗伎俩无法得逞之后,索性撤下了假面具,对人民之友一贯的“反对霸权主义、反对种族主义”的政治立场,发出歇斯底里的叫嚣,而暴露她设想人民之友“改旗易帜”的真面目!

尤其是在新冠病毒疫情(COVID-19)课题上,她公然猖狂跟人民之友的政治立场对着干,指责人民之友服务于中国文宣或大中华,是 “中国海外统治部”、“中华小红卫兵”等等等等。她甚至通过强硬粗暴手段擅自把我们的WhatsApp群组名称“Sahabat Rakyat Malaysia”改为“吐槽美国样衰俱乐部”这样的无耻行动也做得出来。她的这种种露骨的表现足以说明了她是一名赤裸裸的“反中仇华”份子。

其实,在我们年轻队友看来,这名嘲讽我们“浪费了20年青春”[人民之友成立至今近20年(2001-9-9迄今)]并想要“拯救我们年轻工委”的这位“徐大姐”,她的思想依然停留在20年前的上个世纪。她初始或许是不自觉接受了“西方民主”和“颜色革命”思想的培养,而如今却是自觉地为维护美国的全球霸权统治而与反对美国霸权支配全球的中国人民和全世界各国(包括马来西亚)人民为敌。她是那么狂妄自大,却是多么幼稚可笑啊!

她所说的“你们浪费了20年青春”正好送回给她和她的跟班,让他们把她的这句话吞到自己的肚子里去!


[ 漫画新解 ]
新冠病毒疫情下的马来西亚
"公知"及其跟班的精神面貌

注:这“漫画新解”是与<人民之友>4月24日转贴的美国政客叫嚣“围剿中国”煽动颠覆各国民间和组织 >(原标题为<当心!爱国队伍里混进了这些奸细……>)这篇文章有关联的。这篇文章作者沈逸所说的“已被欧美政治认同洗脑的‘精神欧美人’”正是马来西亚“公知”及其跟班的精神面貌的另一种写照!




[ 漫画新解 ]
新冠病毒疫情下的马来西亚
"舔美"狗狗的角色

编辑 / 来源:人民之友 / 网络图库

注:这“漫画新解”是与《察网》4月22日刊林爱玥专栏文章<公知与鲁迅之间 隔着整整一个中国 >这篇文章有关联的,这是由于这篇文章所述说的中国公知,很明显是跟这组漫画所描绘的马来西亚的“舔美”狗狗,有着孪生兄弟姐妹的亲密关系。

欲知其中详情,敬请点击、阅读上述文章内容,再理解、品味以下漫画的含义。这篇文章和漫画贴出后,引起激烈反响,有人竟然对号入座,暴跳如雷且发出恐吓,众多读者纷纷叫好且鼓励加油。编辑部特此接受一名网友建议:在显著的布告栏内贴出,方便网友搜索、浏览,以扩大宣传教育效果。谢谢关注!谢谢鼓励!












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