Need to master English
I AGREE with Thomas Kok in the article “Need to master English to become global players”
( The Star, Aug 27). The fact that PM Tun Dr Mahathir had wanted to shoulder the Education portfolio - how I wish he had been allowed to - showed his seriousness in wanting to drive the education agenda for Malaysia, not least in the push to master English too, I am sure.
We must be very decisive in pushing for the mastery of English this time, with a new government supported by the people in place; dilly dallying will mean wasting many more precious years, a situation we really can ill afford.
First and foremost, we must decisively damn the politics of learning English this time. Discerning people have said that one does not become less Malay, Indian or Chinese by learn- ing English. A political solution worth considering is to promote “coordinate bilingualism”, as opposed to “subordinate bilingualism”, where one language is perceived to be eclipsed by another.
Indigenising English into our society is also a good thing, much like what some Commonwealth countries have done, where local literature is widely written in or translated into English.
Another critical step to send a decisive signal is to make English a compulsory pass at SPM; barring this, students will never take English seriously and we will forever never make the grade in mastering English. The neo-nationalism days post-1969 when English was relegated are no more; globalisation has sneaked up on us, and we must realise that we have lost that advantage bestowed us at Independence (we were among the top users of English in the Asian region then).
In fact, we need be aware that many others in Asia are now learning English with fanatic fervour. We cannot be left behind in this race or we will pay a very heavy price in the near future.
Our leaders must see not mastering English as an existential threat even, and accord it the highest priority. Acting fast and decisively is key, while we can still salvage the situation. Ten to 15 more years and I think we may well reach the point of no return.