Dr M backs English language

Via the Star

PETALING JAYA: Mastering the English language will not make one less patriotic, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“People should accept the fact that English is currently the language of knowledge,” he said.

He said the Internet came with various languages but English was still the main language on websites.

Guest-of-honour: Dr Mahathir launching e-Learning Innovations Tuesday. With him are Open University Malaysia pro-chancellor Tan Sri Azman Hashim (left) and the university’s president/vice-chancellor Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Anuwar Ali.

Dr Mahathir, who initiated the change to use English for teaching Science and Mathematics, said the two subjects should be taught in English as most of the information and research were written in the international language.

“You cannot rely on someone to translate the latest information for you as it changes every minute.

“If you master the language, you can acquire the information by yourself and search for the information that will benefit you,” he said in a talk on Impact of Technology on the Future of Higher Education at a hotel here yesterday.

Separately, in his blog posting on Monday, Dr Mahathir wrote that the Malays had not gained for themselves the 30% target in corporate ownership.

“In the political field, the Malays appear to be in control.

“Most of the high posts, such as PM and MB, are held by the Malays. If these posts are held by the Chinese, then not only will the economy be under Chinese control but the political arena will also be under the Chinese,” he said.

However, he said the Malays were also at fault for not making correct use of the opportunities created for them under the New Economic Policy which had been around for nearly 40 years.