Kuala Lumpur - Bahasa Malaysia has not been neglected as 59 per cent of the teaching and learning process in schools is still in the national language, said Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong.
As such, the ministry`s programme to have mathematics and science taught in English did not in any way sideline Bahasa Malaysia, he said when replying to a supplementary question from Ismail Kasim (BN-Arau) in the Dewan Rakyat Monday.
In fact, Wee said, Bahasa Malaysia was being used at the international level and was now offered as a course in Beijing for undergraduates in China.
He had earlier dismissed claims by Nurul Izzah Anwar (PKR-Lembah Pantai) that the use of English in the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) examination had caused the standard of Bahasa Malaysia to fall.
Wee said the UPSR served as a benchmark to determine whether the two subjects should continue to be taught in English.
"This issue is being handled at roundtable discussions. No need to politicise it," he said, adding that the ministry was cooperating with the Unity, Culture and Arts Ministry to further strengthen Bahasa Malaysia although English and Mathematics was being taught in English.
Source:
http://www.bernama.com (December 1, 2008)