MA63 does not limit use of English – CM
KOTA KINABALU: There is no restriction in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 that limits the use of English, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.
“There is no obstacle in using English. We know Malay is the national language — it’s already enshrined. So I don’t think there is a problem. Chinese schools also speak in Mandarin and private and international schools use English.
“We had taught certain subjects in English before. Science for instance. There’s no law in the Constitution that says we cannot,” Shaife said when commenting on the recent statement by the Education Ministry that the use of English as a teaching medium in schools was a violation of the Constitution.
Shafie said he was not aware of the Education Ministry’s statement that the use of English as a medium of instruction in national schools was a violation.
“I never realised that,” he said at the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Organisation (Upko) Malaysia Day forum here yesterday.
Shafie said three quarters of the conversations in Parliament, for example, are conducted in English.
He also mentioned that his granddaughter speaks to him in English.
Similarly, he said that while Bahasa Melayu is the national language of Malaysia, most proceedings in the courts are still conducted in English.
He added that he will ask the minister concerned to clarify if it is a violation to use English as medium of instruction in national schools in the country.
Shafie made the remarks when Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau, who is also the acting president of Upko, raised the issue at the forum.
Madius stressed that the Education Ministry’s statement that it was unlawful to teach in English was a serious statement.
“We cannot allow that to happen. If it is unlawful to study in English, how can our youths compete and attain jobs in the private sector which require them to be proficient in English,” he said.
Madius said Upko wants some schools in Sabah to be completely English medium schools.
In a written reply to Batang Sadong MP Nancy Shukri, the Education Ministry said it was against the use of English as the medium of instruction in national schools because it violates Article 152(1) of the Federal Constitution, the National Language Act 1963/67 and contravenes the letter and spirit of the Education Act 1996.
Shafie said English was still largely used in formal situations in Sabah, including during court proceedings and in the Dewan Rakyat with the Speaker’s permission.
“It is important in our human development. We are looking at improving Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes and to do this, the use of English must be incorporated to make sure they can engage with their colleagues,” he said.