KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 31): The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) today expressed its support for the Government's decision to reintroduce the teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in English.

"FMM has always emphasised that English needs to be strengthened in the education system because it is the language of Mathematics, Science, Engineering, ICT and Medicine. These core subjects facilitates the acquisition of scientific knowledge and technology that allow for R&D, greater innovation and knowledge–based ICT activities that would contribute to higher value added activities in all sectors of the economy," its president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai said in a statement.

"Mastery of the English language is well acknowledged as necessary in the acquisition of knowledge and in attracting higher value-added investments, thus allowing the country to move quickly towards achieving a high-income knowledge economy," Soh added.

The statement came after Bernama reported earlier today that Prime Minister-cum-acting Education Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had announced during a special meeting with Education Ministry officials yesterday, that Science and Mathematics will once again be taught in English in a bid to promote the use and mastery of the language in the country's education system.

“It is very important that we must give time for English, particularly in the learning of Science and Mathematics. Geography and History can come in any language but Science and Mathematics are not indigenous fields of knowledge (to Malaysians)," he reportedly said. “Therefore, we are going to use English in the teaching of Science and Mathematics.”

A video clip of his remarks was later uploaded on Facebook.

The teaching and learning of the two subjects in English was introduced in 2003, during Dr Mahathir's first tenure as Prime Minister. The system, however, was abolished 10 years later in 2013.

Soh, meanwhile, further stressed that access to training opportunities, especially at the international level, requires the ability to understand, communicate and write in English.

"Malaysians would be deprived of such training opportunities if education policies fail to emphasise the critical importance of English. The language of academic and commercial discourse on R&D, new technologies, design and more recently Industry 4.0 is also in English," he added.  

In fact, Soh said FMM has been lobbying the Government for years to make English a must–pass subject in public examinations.

"We hope to see a stronger commitment to making English a compulsory pass subject in SPM in the very near future," he said.

"We also hope that with greater mastery in the English language and teaching of the core subjects in English, there will be a progressive move towards teaching critical TVET courses in English for selected manufacturing and services sectors, especially for those with high presence of foreign firms participation, highly technical in nature and the hospitality sector," Soh added.