Master English to acquire knowledge, Dr Mahathir urges Malaysians

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 22 Dec 2018 7:35AM · 11 Comments

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad reminds Malaysians that English is a universal language and on its importance to acquire knowledge. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, December 22, 2018.

PRIME Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday reminded Malaysians on the importance of mastering English to acquire knowledge.

“I would like to remind everybody, English is not only for the people of England, it is a universal language. A language of knowledge. To acquire knowledge, you must know English.

“To learn science and medicine, we need to have a good grasp of English,” he said at the Sultan Abdul Hamid Old College Association (SAHOCA) 2018 dinner.

He said the curriculum in schools should emphasise on mastering the subjects which could produce quality graduates and not to focus solely on religious subjects. 

“The government is going to revise the school curriculum. Someone changed the national school. National schools have become religious schools with the learning the religion of Islam and not learning anything else. 

“As a result, people are not conversant in subjects that are going to give them jobs. We are going to change the timetable in schools. We will study religion but not in all the periods every day. Maybe once in a week but we need to master all other subjects,” he added. 

Also present was his wife​​​​, Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali. – Bernama, December 22, 2018.   

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Comments

  • Then. Maslee must start cracking now. Switch from dakwah to the importance of educating our children to face the real, modern world. Ask Maslee to start speaking in English to reflect the new policy of the Government. Emphasize on science, maths, TVET and English. If he is not up to it, he should be honest about it and step down for someone else to do the job effectively.

    Posted 5 years ago by Panchen Low · Reply

    • FOR THE YOUNGER MALAYSIANS, THIS YWA HOW IT WAS DURING MERDEKA IN 1957, SINGING THE BRITISH NATIONAL ANTHEM "GOD RATE THE QUEEN" IN PRIMARY SCHOOL. THE MALAYS WERE PROGRESSIVE THEN!..

      Posted 5 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • The best news since the election results.

    Posted 5 years ago by C D · Reply

  • He needs to say alive to move this forward soonest. The private schools who are making a killing now will have to be worried. But we need to start with the teachers. Too many bigots and teachers who become pregnant every year and maternity leave for the rest of the year.

    Posted 5 years ago by Alphonz Jayaraman · Reply

  • Hati dan mulut tak sama la. Get rid of your black shoes white shoes hotel pool and dakwah education minister first la

    Posted 5 years ago by J w · Reply

  • Good news.. Keep all religion away from school to bring unity among childrens. Make Moral studies compulsory for all races l. There is so much racism and religious slander going on among students & and by fanatic teachers. Keep religious activities within places of worship...

    Posted 5 years ago by Maniraju Maruthai · Reply

  • Well, you were the root cause of the rot, with your berserk nationalistic move that saw public schooling system shifted from English to BM stream when you were Minister of Education way back then. You should fix it this time round. Not only is our existing education system failing to do good, it is causing harm by being breeding grounds for radicals and racists. Childrens minds should be allowed to expand and explore, the opposite of what is happening in public schools here.

    Posted 5 years ago by Mahsuri Smiles · Reply

    • TDM BECAME EDUCATION MINISTER IN I974, AFTER CHANGE OF ENGLISH TO MALAY BY THE NATIONAL LANGUAGE ACT 1963, & SADLY THE MALAYS SUFFERED THE MOST....

      Posted 5 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • Racial unity must be tought from Kindergarden to U level. It can only come with respecting each other culture and religion. But sadly this is not happening in religious classes or instututions . The product is narrow minded superiority complex students.

    Posted 5 years ago by Maniraju Maruthai · Reply

  • But your bodoh education minister doesnt get it.

    Posted 5 years ago by Malaysia Baru . · Reply

  • Maslee is not a good education minister, please change him.

    Posted 5 years ago by Will Be Humble · Reply