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By Debra Chong, The Malaysian Insider

Age has not made him any more mellow. Outspoken former prime minister Tun Dr Manathir Mohamad, who turned 84 today, was his usual forthright self in a no-holds barred question-and-answer session here after giving a keynote address at the closed-door forum on the position of Malays and the royal institution from the perspective of 1 Malaysia.

In good spirits, he made light and tongue-in-cheek comments on many issues that are causing a stir among the multiracial, multi-religious Malaysians.

Q: What’s your birthday wish?

A: My birthday wish is very big. It’s not achievable within my lifetime. It is to see a Malaysia where people think they are Malaysians and are not linked to anywhere else.

Q: What was talked about inside the hall?

A: I think the talks were actually a reaction to the situation now, where Malays are accused of being obstacles to the growth of the national economy, obstacles to national unity, obstacles to everything. They feel dissatisfied about these accusations so they spoke at length about what is happening to the country. I feel this is a good development because they have to know the real situation in the country today.

Q: You have been criticising Najib’s English language policy, the move to revert to Malay. Do you think he has been disregarding the people’s wishes or taken the wrong steps?

A: Yes, yes. I’ve said this so many times before. This policy was implemented during the last year I was prime minister and I had very definite reasons, supported by the supreme council of Umno, as to why we should teach science and math in English.

It is not about trying to learn English, it’s not about trying to learn Malay. It’s simply just an acknowledgement of the fact that today’s knowledge comes to us in the English language. Just as in the past, Arabs, when they became Muslims, studied Greek in order to acquire the knowledge of the Greeks and subsequently the Europeans from the dark ages studied Arabic in order to acquire the knowledge of the Arabs.

Today, the knowledge is with people who write in English. And for that reason, we want to learn English to acquire the knowledge, not just to learn English.

Science has got a special language, English, for itself. That’s why it’s very important that we use English in order to study science and math.

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Comments (8)

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written by storm62, July 10, 2009 23:22:59

you won't be surprised if they don't entertain you when you speak english to them at some government service counters....maybe tourist coming to Malaysia should learn how to speak Malay before they enter Malaysia.

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written by hellosunshine, July 10, 2009 23:51:43

our education system was churning out 1st class academicians, doctors, professionals etc and they were proficient in English because English was the medium of instruction and compulsory then. Look what your 22 years of dictatorial rule had done to the country and the education system now. Billions down the pockets of the politicians, their children, cronies and riff raff and our children now globally unable to compete because of their poor grasp of English. You alone are responsible for the dire situation our children and the country are facing now. Don't try to snake your way out of this responsibility.

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written by truthbespoken, July 11, 2009 00:24:32

"A: I think the talks were actually a reaction to the situation now, where Malays are accused of being obstacles to the growth of the national economy, obstacles to national unity, obstacles to everything. They have to know the real situation in the country today."

Mahathir, the real situation is, corrupted, arrogant and racist UMNO is THE OBSTACLE to the growth of the national economy, unity and everything! UMNO cannot be equated with all Malays as this party does not represent all Malays! Get this right first, old man, don't twist and misrepresent situations all the time and forever cause more trouble amongst Malaysians!

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written by Fart Fart Wah, July 11, 2009 02:53:05

it is not fair..whacking najib and his nasi kangkang wife.

22 years you should have done something better to see things better than what it is today...question?

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written by Milo, July 11, 2009 08:57:53

TDM got a good point...common sense tells us that it is not english, but knowledge that is the real issue. But our system of governance will ensure policies are determined by politics; not common sense.

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written by allangan2006, July 11, 2009 10:42:56

In the P.Ramlee's film, the actor's famous quote was "Bila orang tua ni nak mampus?". You see, the late P.Ramlee even joint forces to be critical.

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written by abbey, July 11, 2009 10:51:42

" Yes, yes. I’ve said this so many times before. This policy was implemented during the last year I was prime minister and I had very definite reasons, supported by the supreme council of Umno, as to why we should teach science and math in English."

There are 3 " I " ( I've said this so many times before, I was prime minister and I had very definite reasons ) versus " supported by the supreme council of Umno "
It is plain obvious Mahathir's 3 won with bigger margin against Umno supreme ( read impotent ) council of 1. Checkmate!

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written by SamBall, July 11, 2009 13:25:37

jib, time to put the old kaka to pasture; his verbal diarhoea is gonna destory everything and everyone except him (the teflon kaka)..

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