Much ado about Language...

This morning at my usual breakfast haunt at the Astaka Taman Saadon, I was joined by a fellow artist and lecturer at USM who was reading the Star News paper across from where i sat. Normally we dont talk much other than hi and bye but this morning Fauzan decided to comment about the ruckus that has been in the news for the past few days about teaching English and how not to teach English in the Malaysian schools. He was obviously glad that the government was reversing the manner in which English is being taught in schools today which is teaching maths and Science in English and i agreed adding that Science and maths has a language of their own sometimes even English speakers also has a problem understanding and what more for beginning students. We reflected back in time when we were in school and noted that back then there were a good supply of good English teachers mostly products of Kirby and Brinsford in England and whose delivery of the English education was excellent.
Memartabatkan Bahasa Malaysia/ Memperkukuhkan Bahasa Inggeris or Upholding Bahasa Malaysia,Strengthening English is the new government policy although on looking back in time it has always been the Govenment policy and the only tthing new about it is that those who make the policies today are having a hard time keeping up with it. Students today are not those of yesteryears and the English just as the Bahasa Malaysia has taken a more different sense of urgency. Just as English is the lingua franca for internation communication Bahasa is The National Language for the country and must remain so for the sake of indentity and unity. Both are equally valid and need to be acquired by all Malaysians who read and write and not to mention speak. It is lame to find a Chinese or an Indian or any of the othere ethnic groups living in this country not being able to communicate in Bahasa Malaysia if not in English a poor excuse when a Bangladeshi or a Miyamar worker can pick up Malay in a few months of his stay in the country. For a non Malay Malaysian regardless of what nationality or ethnic background he or she comes from not being able to speak or communicate in Bahasa Malayisa is an insult to the nation and to himself not to mention the lack of loyalty and pride one should have towards one's homeland.
The only question I had in the previous government was the lack of wisdom when the teaching of maths and Science was to be done in English. Math and science have a language of their own which sometimes even a good English speaker cannot understand just like reading a medical journal where not everyone can do even if it is in their mother tounge. The language should have been delivered through subjects like literature or geogrphy or history like in the old days where reading was a major part of the study. But this is my country, Malaysia, anything goes and for every step forward we take often we take two backwards but we keep on trying till we find the solution to everyone's satisfaction. Ther is no villains or boogey men in this matter and no hidden agenda to talk of as it affects everyone's future and that of their children's. There is only the need to find better ways and more practical solutions all around. The sooner the better for this to drag on is a waste of the public's time and can create insinuations for the government like using the issue to divert public attention from other more pressing issues.
On this subject the only thing that I can offer as a suggestion towards enhancing the quality of English usage in the country is to encaurage reading. The Sun news paper the was given out free every morning at the Ampang Park Junction where I waited for the American Embassy to be opened was a great example whereby the public is automatically encauraged to read or sit and waste their time away waiting. Books and novels especially at book stores are relatively too expensive for people to purchase and read, the government can look inot how to lower the cost of these novels so those who enjoy reading can have a larger choice of reading materials that they can afford. The purchase of second hand books, especially good novels can be made and shipped to rural libraries via public libraries so that more children have excess to these books. Many a good Samaritan I know of living retired life in Terengganu have donated their times and even money to provide the means for rural students to enjoy the benifits of libraries in their neighborhood, these should be given support in forms of expansion with more materials and even an assistance in the form of a part time librarian. For God's sake just do it! Do something no matter how corny or absurd but if it works why not?
Second hand books are a lucrative form of business if you look into it and used books like used cloaths find their ways out of the country where they fetch profitable prices and so go figure it out where is the loss for the nation? Each and every school in the country should boast a library of its own like in the old days. Nomatter how small or insignificant a library is a library where books can be accumulated and dispersed and students can find a corner to bury themselves into thier private world or reading. Help the helpers, find out who they are and what they need to function for the benifit of the students and the nation in general. An abandoned building or even a renovated container can be turned into a mini library equipped with second hand books and a computer it can become a perfect hangout for rural students who enjoy reading. For those who have and have the inclination or urge to give in return for the good of the whole creating a form of mini library within schools or outside is one sure way of doing good in enhancing the standard of education especially in acquiring language proficiency for the nation. Even if only one individual benifited from one's whole project it is worth all the effort.