Pragmatism is an important way of approach towards certain matters in life especially in the new order of world today. Being pragmatic also allows you to widen your horizon in viewing issues and help you analyze anything properly towards a practical solution.
I had a chance to participate in a dialogue session with one of the key senior minister in Malaysian cabinet recently. During that session, I took the chance to ask him 2 questions (all in Bahasa Melayu), not just to steal the limelight but more inclined towards receiving his personal opinions and views regarding certain important issues (this is very very crucial as he was said to be one our prime minister candidate in the near future...you have to know who he is and what he is running for before you place your support right?).
My first question was related to the factors affecting investor's interest in bringing their foreign direct investments (
FDI) to Malaysia. In the factor of providing cheap labour force, China, India and Vietnam overthrow us in multiple times and there is no way of competing in this factor. In offering skilled technicians and expertise, most of our good engineers and scientists prefer to work overseas, in favor of independent and technology-savvy environment of work as well as receiving higher pay. This brain drain however is not just a national issue but also affects other countries in this nearly
borderless world of trade and human capital. In the past, we used to sell to the world our political stability and harmoniously living races as factors to attract investors into our country. However, with recent trend of demonstrations, challenges towards the country leadership and one statutory declarations after another, it is obvious that this factor is no longer a significant one. So, I asked him about his opinion and what is the next best thing to do. My second question (thanks to
Ashraf for the idea) revolve in the issue of revoking Maths and Science in English policy so that it could be taught in
Bahasa Melayu like before. This was somehow in accordance to a proposed declaration by a southern state in Malaysia where this minister came from. I stated that any move to revoke the policy is nevertheless a move backwards (
langkah ke belakang) and wish to see his personal view towards this.
The minister, being well-versed in politics, an experienced one and senior to many portfolios in the government did answer to my two questions professionally. He did answer that apart from offering cheap labour force, Malaysia is well-known for its good infrastructure and good policy in securing trade activities. China may be a cheap place to venture into but unknown extra taxes and charges implied by the government made most of the investors reluctant to stay. Furthermore, Malaysia is still politically stable in comparison to its neighbouring countries and current demos and protests are mostly outcome of the former
TPM's personal war to aim for the nation's premiership. However, the minister was still strong with his stand in revoking the teaching of Maths and Science in English back to
Bahasa Melayu with a justification that Japanese could progress much in science and technology by using Japanese language so why not us too.
I have no chance to counter question him as this is not the noble parliament and I am just a petty player in this sordid drama of life. In my point of view, Japanese could progress so much by using Japanese language as they themselves are the technology and instrumentation developer while we are just the technology user. Japanese could did their chemical analysis by themselves by using their self-build Japanese version of
Shimadzu analytical machines while exporting the English version of it to the rest of the world but for us, without any knowledge in English, we could not operate the machine and far from it that we could develop a
Bahasa Melayu version of it, either software (maybe we could) or hardware wise (anyone have any idea?). I did realize that there were flaws in implementing the Maths and Science in English teachings but that is not just the reason for us to stop it. It may be difficult to find good teachers to teach at the rural areas but by familiarizing ourselves with English at early age, it could provide us a key to the whole world. With English proficiency, maybe one day we could have the chance to see our Malaysian-owned breakfast cafe selling
Nasi Lemak and
Teh Tarik at the banks of the river Thames or at the busy Spring Street at the corner of Lafayette in New York.
Maybe teaching Maths and Science in English to standard one pupils is too early for them. We could start with a subject like 'English for Mathematics and Science' to familiarize the pupils with terms related to the subjects which will provide them with better understanding to proceed to the later stage. Our educationists surely have a lot more better ideas than mine if they stop making educational institution just as stepping stones to reach for higher posts in the ministry and concentrate in doing their job to educate the new generation at their best.
I may sound convincing but I am just a petty actor in this sordid world*...hope that my voice will be heard one day...thank you to
MSAJ Kansai for giving me an opportunity to attend this dialogue session,
salam to all and have a pleasant week ahead...
*credit to
yt as this is formerly her
ym status.
(Picture in display is not related at all to this post. I just took it on my way back from the high-tea. It shows the riverside of Kamo River near Shijo at summer nights where young couples date. A sociology professor even did a research on the average distance between couples...dunno for what purpose..hehehe)
Ketsueki-gata (血液型) is a Japanese popularity-based belief that a blood type is predictive to someone's personality. However, this study once started by a Professor Takeji Furukawa (1927) from Tokyo Women's Teacher School lacks of credentials as not more than 20 persons were taken as samples in this study. Over the years, the popularity remains despite the lack of concrete evidence behind it. Personally, I am an A-type and found most of the traits soooo true. Just for the fun of it, please enjoy the cartoons (received from a forwarded email. Thank you Ms. Sender). Click on it for larger image!!!
GOOD VS BAD
