PPSMI - another rally?

Gapena and Dong Zong must have felt a sense of glory and victory. Both organizations campaigned vigourously for the teachings of Mathematics and Science in English in schools to be scrapped and revert to Bahasa Malaysia in national primary schools and Mandarin and Tamil in national-type primary schools. The policy has now been reverted to pre-2003 by the government.

The government can now claimed they listened to the voices of the people while both the organizations can declare they are the rakyat heroes. Really? Are the views of the actual receipient stakeholders, the parents and students has been really taken into consideration when decision on this matter was made.

The policy to teach Maths and Science in English was launched during Tun Mahathir's tail end term as PM. He was very eager to get the policy implemented as fast as possible. Leaving no stones unturned, his machinery works to the fullest to ensure all system goes as planned in time.

There were opponents to this policy change but I can't recalled Gapena as one of them or even those in the Gerakan Mansuhkan PPSMI (GMP). The more vocal opposition to the PPSMI came from the Chinese educationist group Dong Zong.

To neutralised the opposition from Dong Zong, a mammoth gathering to show the Chinese community supports for the PPSMI was organised in 2002 at Stadium Putra. The crowds were there but the audience consists mostly those mobilised by Malay-based organizations. The so-called Chinese community's support was all-over the indoor stadium - but in the shape of standard banners and buntings with names of many unheard of Chinese-based guilds and clans. These banners parade was actually coordinated by a Chinese clan leader. C0-incidentally he was awarded a datukship months later for his service to the nation.

Now the policy is already reverted and expected to be fully executed by 2012, voices of dismayed especially from parents who are in favour of PPSMI are getting louder by the day. The question is why these voices of concern were not heard or taken into considerations by Gapena and Dong Zong when both organizations campaigned against PPSMI? Can it be these organizations are just speaking for themselves, meaning the committee members, without the imvolvement of the real stakeholders - the parents and students.

Maybe it's the parents themselves that have to take the blame. They did not voice out loud enough to be heard. Maybe they should have rallied all parents and marched to the Agong's istana to submit a memorandum in favour of the policy. Is it too late to have one now? From previous incidences, it seems that's how one get noticed and have the ears of the government nowadays if you have any issue that need the government's attention.

Or maybe other than the online survey, Mahathir can get the Chinese clan guy to organized a rally at the stadium? Maybe not, Mahathir is no more the PM and do not have the clout and power as in 2002. Those NGOs which supported his policy the last time had turn against him this time around. Maybe the real stakeholders, the parents and students affected by the turn around policy might attend in person to rally behind him and bring along banners of support too. - Loka