TEACHING OF MATHEMATICS AND

SCIENCE IN ENGLISH IN MALAYSIA

CHRONOLOGY OF RECENT PRESS RELEASES
Compiled by Tan Sri Dato Soong Siew Hoong
Discussed at Industry Committee
Updated 19 March 2012

Tun Dr. M changed constitution to

allow teaching of Science and
Mathematics in English (PPSMI)
v Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad as Prime
Minister (PM) in 1996 amended the Malaysian
Constitution to enable the teaching of
Science and Mathematics in English (or
PPSMI) in national schools, in recognition of
the importance of English in the acquisition
and use of Science and Technology worldwide
as well as to international economy and trade.

In 2009, DPM and Education Minister

announce reversal of PPSMI

v In 2009, the Minister of Education and

Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin
Yassin announced that the government would
reverse the PPSMI policy in national schools to
Bahasa Malaysia as from 2012.

PAGE Campaign for Science and

Mathematics be allowed to be taught
in English as an option

v Since then the Parents Action Group for

Education Malaysia (PAGE), led by Datin Sri
Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim, has campaigned
vigorously to allow the PPSMI to be retained

as an option in national schools.

v PAGE turned to UNESCO for support (29

September 2011, Star).
v Also writing to PM on 31 October 2011.

In Oct. 2010, FMM calls for English to be

strengthened in Education

v In September 2010 and again in October

of 2011, the Federation of Malaysian
Manufacturers (FMM), a respectable
important private sector organization has
publicly stated the importance of English in
the use of Mathematics, Science, Engineering,
ICT and Medicine and, for high value added
economic activities. English is also widely
used in technical manuals, training, especially
international training, commerce, trade
and in communications with governments
worldwide.

v According to world statistic 2010, English is

the top language of internet users with over
536 million users, followed by Chinese (445
million) and Spanish (153 million).
v There must be equal emphasize on Bahasa
Malaysia and English in education, both to be
made must pass subject.

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NGO Jaringan Melayu Malaysia calls for

Science and Mathematics to be
taught in English (6 Sept. 2011)
v Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM), a
non-government organization, after a 4
month survey among 15,000 respondents
nationwide, reports that 54% of the
respondents nationally including parents from
rural areas preferred PPSMI to be retained.
v Some 70% of the respondents were Malays
and 60% of the parents are from rural areas.
v JMM urges the government to listen to the
voices of parents.

v JMM also (on 16 September 2011, Star) and

PAGE support government moves to make
English a must pass subject in the near future
(not too far away).

ACCCIM urges government to allow

Science and Mathematics to be taught
in English as an option
(21 Sept. 2011, Nanyang)

v Tan Sri William Cheng, President of the

Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce
and Industry of Malaysia calls on the
government to retract the order to abolish
PPSMI by 2012, and allow PPSMI in national
schools if the students parents do want it.
v This will allow the Malaysians not to lose out
to others at international level.

Malaysia Christian Church Council

supports English to be used to teach
Science and Mathematics in
Secondary Schools
(24 Sept. 2011, Star)

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v The Honorary Secretary of the Malaysian

Christian Schools Council supports the
continued policy of teaching Science and
Mathematics in English. Missionary Schools
in Malaysia since 1841 have used English as
medium of instruction.

v Use of English alongside the use of Bahasa

Malaysia has been a unifying factor among
students and teachers in our multi-racial,
multi-cultural missionary schools.

Tun Dr. M supports groups advocating

return to PPSMI
(27 Sept. 2011, Star)

v Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad (the original

promoter of PPSMI in 1996s) has voiced his
support for groups advocating the PPSMI.
v It is not a question of lack of nationalism, he
said.

Manufacturing sector receptive to

PAGEs views

v It was reported that private manufacturing

sectors are receptive to the suggestions from
various quarters that teaching of Science and
Mathematics in English in secondary schools
that want it, while others can teach the
subjects in their mother tongue, in Bahasa
Malaysia or Mandarin or Tamil.
v Teaching of English in these subjects will
also strengthen the students efficiency in
English communications which is vital in
todays global economy.

Political Parties

v PGRM president Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon

said both Bahasa Malaysia and English
could be used when teaching the subjects to

secondary school student. A bilingual teaching

method would better prepare students when
they enter Form Six or university (30 October
2011, Star).

v DAP too, said it supported the PPSMI if a

majority of parents in a school want it (End
October 2011).
v President of MIC, Dato G. Palanivel supports
PPSMI at Secondary School (End October
2011).

v MCA President supports teaching of

Mathematics and Science at Primary Schools
in students mother tongue, but the two
subjects are to be taught in English at
Secondary Schools.

DPM says PPSMI will be abolished

(31 Oct. 2011, Star)

v But on 5 November 2011, it is announced

that PPSMI will continue for current students
until they finish Form Five (5 November 2011,
Star).
v Mathematics and Science will be taught
freely in Bahasa Malaysia from 2016, under
MBMMBI (which is to uphold Bahasa Malaysia
and strengthen English).

Update on PPSMI
(11 Mar. 2012, Star)

v Rallies were held in Dataran, Petaling Jaya for

the PPSMI Policy to be retained indefinitely as
an option in schools.
v Organizer: Concerned Parents of Selangor
(CPS) Chairman Samsudin Hamid.
v Parents and students travelled from Penang,
Johor, Malacca and Pahang to attend the rally.

v Also announced setting up Parents Charter on

Education Policies in Malaysia and a coalition
of parents groups as Association of Parent
Groups in Reforming Education (ASPIRE),
which includes CPS, Malacca Action Group for
Parents in education and Herald of Penang
Education (HOPE).
v The rally in Petaling Jaya was designed as P4P,
(Parents for PPSMI) spelt out objectives as
follows:
a
PPSMI must be reinstated for national
schools
a

Abrogate immediately the authority given
to school principals
a

Restore national schools to be the firstchoice school for parents
a

Engage parents
a

National Transformation of the education
system
a

Teaching profession must be upgraded and
given due recognition for its status
a

Select a professional education to head the
MOED

Newspaper report
(11 Mar. 2012, Star)

v Students prefer using English in Science,

Mathematics and Computing examinations:
Year

Percentage

2009
2010
2011

97.5%
97.1%
over 98%

v As entrepreneurs in Malaysia doing business

with all countries in the world in a very
competitive environment, we should openly
support the above actions to retain the PPSMI
i.e. to teach Mathematics and Science in
English.
v Also to request for English to be mandatory
must pass subject in SPM.

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