Flip-Flopping Culture?

The Star 5th November 2011

I do not know whether to laugh. But Malaysia is fast making a name for herself as a nation of flip-flopping ministers. And the scary thing is that these are seniors ministers!

PM Najib himself has long acquired a reputation among cynical Malaysians as the flip-flop Prime Minister.

Now his deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin, who is also the Minister of Education, is following suit. Just a few days ago, he was very insistent that the teaching of science and mathematics would revert to Malay starting next year and that students would not be given the option to continue learning the subjects in English despite protests from some concerned parents.

But when former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir (who, in 2003, as the then Prime Minister decided that science and mathematics be taught in English), suggested that a referendum should be held to determine if a majority of Malaysians wanted to continue with English as the medium for the teaching of science and mathematics and that the Prime Minister himself could override Muhyiddin's decision, the latter suddenly panicked and went back on his words.

Muhyiddin has now decided that those who have been learning the subjects in English can continue to do so.

What an about turn! and so quickly too after being so insistent! Another flip-flop!

Personally, I am for the teaching of science and mathematics in English. But a minister should stick to a decision he has made and not do a flip flop so easily.

Trying to justify himself for the about turn, Muhyiddin now even had the cheeks to say that people would be angry if they were put in a difficult situation such as when "their children are learning in this language today, and in another language tomorrow", as the Star newspaper had quoted him as saying.

Wow, didn't he know this earlier when he insisted on reverting to Malay as the medium for the teaching of science and mathematics especially when some parents had asked for the option for their children to continue learning the subjects in English?

Why do so only when the former Prime Minister had come out to suggest a referendum?