YOUTH and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said he supports the teaching of science and mathematics in English (popularly by its Malay acronym, PPSMI), as vernacular educationists and Malay groups rail against a possible revival of the controversial policy. 

He said that PPSMI has helped him and his generation.

“This is my personal stance. I agree with the prime minister’s proposal.

“I would say that PPSMI has helped me and my generation and that is why I’m supporting it,” he told reporters at a press conference after attending the Malaysia Future Leaders School programme.

On Friday, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is overseeing the education portfolio after the forced resignation of Dr Maszlee Malik, told Education Ministry officials that he wanted a renewed push to teach the subjects in English.

Dr Mahathir did not specifically say the much maligned Teaching and Learning of Science and Mathematics policy, which he introduced in 2003, would be revived, but vernacular educationists and Malay groups have been unanimous in their rejection of it.  

Syed Saddiq also said he knew that the move by the prime minister would not be a popular one, but said that many, especially those students from rural areas, would benefit learning Science and Mathematics in English.

“I give my support to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad because I know, bringing this matter up is not easy and not popular.

“But he is sincere in trying to give the best education and best exposure to those especially in rural areas, so that they become as competitive as others when they go to university or to work in the future,” he said.

Syed Saddiq also said that he is a proven product of PPSMI and claimed that it has helped him and his generation to master the English language.

“I’m one of those who was successfully educated through PPSMI. At the beginning, my (English) language used to be weak, but after completing high school, what I learnt from PPSMI has helped me in university and up until today,” he told reporters.

He, however, said the final decision on reintroducing PPSMI will only be made by the Cabinet after further discussion together. 

“In this case too, the discussions will always be concluded in the cabinet together,” he said. 

The PPSMI policy was intended to arrest the declining English proficiency among students, particularly Malays. It was abolished in 2009, when Najib Razak took over as prime minister. – February 2, 2020.

MORE TO COME.