I must commend the Education Minister for finally realising that subjects taught in Chinese schools should be taught in Chinese (Mandarin perhaps). However, pupils from these schools should have the command of the Bahasa Malaysia.
Coming from the time when multiculturalism never existed in school, I truly hope that ALL students, regardless of race, be forced to learn ALL the major languages (Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and Tamil), and study in the SAME school, so that it would be easier for us all, especially those who will be inheriting this nation from us, to bring down the race barrier and think like how we (my generation) did.
I don’t understand this term multiculturalism. During my time, when we were doing our elementary education phase, I never thought of my other classmates like Wong Choon Wah, Michael Foo, Michael Leong, Chow Kah Sung as people of another race. We played together, ate together, stood on chairs together (punished)…we were friends, and we were one as Malaysians. As we grew up, those older than us poisoned us with these stupid “rights of each race” and “mother tongue” issues. From the increased race barriers come a generation that plaster the rear screen of their vehicles with stickers that say: “Die as a Muslim”, “Jesus Loves You”, “Sathya Sri Vaheguru”, “Amithaba” and so on. Then we become a nation filled with people who are not only race-conscious, but also apprehensive towards the religion of others.
It’s time to change back to the old ways.