Gapena wants to see Muhyiddin

KUALA LUMPUR, 27 May 2009: Federation of National Writers Associations of Malaysia (Gapena), will submit a nine-point memorandum to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to express support to the “1Malaysia” concept and state its position on the policy of teaching Mathematics and Science in English.

Gapena chief I Tan Sri Prof Emeritus Ismail Hussein said Gapena remained steadfast in wanting to see the policy scrapped and in demanding that the status of the national language be restored in the national education system.  

“This is in line with the calls by intellectuals, cultural activists and literary figures as well as findings by several studies organised by universities and public organisations,” he told a news conference at the Gapena House here today.

He said Gapena would support any effort to strengthen English among Malaysians through the teaching of English as a language but not at the expense of the national language.

On the “1Malaysia” concept, he said Gapena offered cooperation in realising the concept based on the interpretation of the constitution and the country’s law.

Meanwhile, Gapena chief II Prof Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Abu Bakar thanked Muhyiddin for his willingness to listen to various views on the policy.

“If the government wants to strengthen the English language, then it should introduce effective teaching methods without making it a medium of instruction in the teaching of Mathematics and Science,” he said.

Meanwhile, Prof Emeritus Ismail called on the government not to allow former Communist Party of Malaya leader, Chin Peng, to return to Malaysia despite calls to do so on humanitarian grounds.

“There is nothing humane about the violence perpetrated by the CPM against the people,” he said. — Bernama