Month: April 1973

DAP wants a comprehensive review of the entire education policy and system in Malaysia

Speech by DAP Secretary- General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the closing of the DAP Luar Bandar Selangor Seminar held in Klang on 29th April 1973 at 4 p.m.

The high rate of mass failures among Malay students in science and mathematics and among non-Malay students in Bahasa Malaysia in the 1972 LCE examination has highlighted the grave problems, defects and weaknesses of the Malaysian education system.

Fifteen years of alliance education policy has borne very bitter fruits for the parents and students.

Every Malaysian with children in school knows that the quality and content of education has deteriorated badly over the years, which the Ministry of Education officials are not prepared to admit. Continue reading DAP wants a comprehensive review of the entire education policy and system in Malaysia

Do not abolish the nine Selangor State Assembly seats within and contiguous to the Federal Capital of KL

Speech by Ketua Pembangkang and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, in the Dewan Rakyat on the Constitution (Amendment) 1973 Bill on 26.4.1973

The Malaysian Constitution is probably one of the most amended constitutions in the world. Today this House is asked to give its approval to another fresh batch of constitutional amendments.

The present amendments concern principally two subjects. Firstly, there is the proposed establishment of the Education Service Commission, responsible for the appointment, dismissal and exercise of disciplinary control over teachers and other members of the education service.

Education is a vital subject which affects the future of every citizen in the country, and will determine the future destiny of the nation as a whole. This is amply evidenced by the public consternation and country over the unprecedented mass failures in the 1972 MCE examination. Continue reading Do not abolish the nine Selangor State Assembly seats within and contiguous to the Federal Capital of KL

The 1972 Mass MCE Bahasa Malaysia Failures

I must confess deep disappointment and regret, shared by decisive sections of the people in the country, that the Government in this policy pronouncement has conspicuously omitted reference to the burning issue in the country – namely, the mass failures in the 1972 M.C.E./S.PM, examination merely because of failure in the Bahasa Malaysia paper.

I had hoped that the Government would take this opportunity to show to the people and the world that it is a liberal, broadminded and statesman-like one, which genuinely cares for the interest and welfare of all sections of the population. Continue reading The 1972 Mass MCE Bahasa Malaysia Failures

Call for Royal Commission of Inquiry into the mass failures of non-Malay candidates in MCE Bahasa Malaysia paper and Malay students in MCE science and mathematics

Speech by Opposition Leader and DAP Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, in the Dewan Rakyat in the debate on the Royal Speech on Wednesday, 17th April 1973.

I rise to join in the expression of thanks of this House to His Majesty, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, for his Gracious Speech in opening the Third Session of the Third Parliament.

I have listened with attention and interest to His Majesty’s Gracious Speech, as it sets out the government’s policies and intentions for the coming year.

I must confess deep disappointment and regret, share by decisive sections of the people in the country, that the government in this policy pronouncement has conspicuously omitted reference to the burning issue in the country – namely, the mass failures in the 1972 MCE/SPM examinations merely because of failure in Bahasa Malaysia paper. Continue reading Call for Royal Commission of Inquiry into the mass failures of non-Malay candidates in MCE Bahasa Malaysia paper and Malay students in MCE science and mathematics

1971 Std. V Assessment Examination: 63 national-type (Chinese) primary schools had 100% failures

Speech by DAP Secretary- General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Sang, when speaking to the Johore State DAP Standing Sub-Committee on Sunday, 15th April 1973 at Kluang DAP premises at 2p.m.

Last July, at a public rally in Tangkak, I spoke of the great urgency that parents should waken up to the very poor quality and standard of education their children are getting in Malaysian primary and secondary schools.

I had given some figures in connection with the 1971 Std. V Assessment Examination. Thus, for Chinese primary schools, for the whole state of Johore, out of a total of 12,215 who sat for the examination, 55.3% failed in mathematics; 26.9% failed in Bahasa Inggeris I; 33.6% failed in Mathematics; 26.9% failed in Science; 42% failed in Geography-History; and 41% failed in Chinese language.

I had hope that teachers, parents and the education ministry officials would initiate comprehensive inquiries to determine and overcome this shocking state of mass failures from the primary schools up to secondary schools.

Sad to say, apart from a few MCA teachers expressing their unhappiness that this matter should ever be aired at all, no positive or concrete action was taken by educationists, teachers and parents. Continue reading 1971 Std. V Assessment Examination: 63 national-type (Chinese) primary schools had 100% failures

Award conditional passes to 14,330 who failed MCE because of BM paper

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP Public Rally at Tanjong Tualang, 8th April, 1973 at 10.00 p.m.

Call to Cabinet to reconsider MCE failure to award conditional passes to 14,330 who failed just because of Bahasa Malaysia paper

The announcement by the Minister of Education, Dato Hussein Onn, last Tuesday that the Ministry would not award conditional passes to the 14,330 MCE candidates who failed because of failure in Bahasa Malaysia paper in one of most unfortunate events in the recent development of education in the country.

All arguments are in support for the award of conditional passes to the MCE candidates, especially when it is a widely-accepted fact now that the fault for the mass failures of 14,330 does not lie with the students, but with the MCE examination and education system.

The overwhelming majority of the 14,300 students had tried their level best to pass the MCE Bahasa Malaysia paper, knowing full well that they would fail the whole MCE examination if they do not do so. Their school record and school tests show that they have achieved high standards in MCE Bahasa Malaysia. How come, then, can there be such massive failures amounting to 14,300 candidates, who are bright, conscientious and hardworking students? Continue reading Award conditional passes to 14,330 who failed MCE because of BM paper

Meeting of all Opposition Member of Parliament to discuss MCE failures

DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Lim Kit Siang, today issued the following statement (4 April 1973):

1) DAP Repeats Call for Royal Commission of Inquiry into the High Rate of Failure of Non- Malay Students in MCE Bahasa Malaysia and continued High Rate of Failures in Maths and Science by Malay Students

The announcement by the Minister of Education Dato Hussein Onn that the Government would not award conditional pass to the 14,166 candidates who failed last year’s MCE examinations solely because of failures in Bahasa Malaysia paper is regrettable. It must have come as a great blow and disappointment to decisive sections of the population who had hoped that the Minister of Education and the Alliance Government would take liberal, broadminded and statesman-like attitude on this important matter.

The argument that the regulations governing the award of MCE, fixed by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate does not allow the award of conditional passes, in unacceptable. These rules are “man-made” and can be “man-unmade”. There are, in this instance, cogent and overpowering reasons why special exceptions should be made, for an open, thorough and impartial inquiry would definitely reveal that the majority of the 14,166 students are not to be blamed for the failure in the Bahasa Malaysia paper. Continue reading Meeting of all Opposition Member of Parliament to discuss MCE failures

Need for liberal and statesmanlike approach to problem of education

Speech by DAP Secretary- General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit sang, to the DAP Negeri Sembilan State Sub- Committee in Seremban on Sunday, 1st April 1973 at 5 p.m.

1. Need for liberal and statesmanlike approach to problem of education in a multi- racial society like Malaysia.

Yesterday, we read in the press that the Australian Labour Government had decided to abolish fees for all Australian universities and colleges from Jan 1. 1974 and that Australian Federal Government would take over full responsibility for financing tertiary education in Australian.

In Malaysia, however, the Federal Government seems to be taking full responsibility for denying maximum education opportunities to Malaysian citizens who have ability and intelligences as illustrated by the recent shockingly high rate of mass failures in the M.C.E because of failure in Bahasa Malaysia paper.

The future of education of the present generation of Malaysian students is the burning issue of the day and the subject of discussion of all homes, coffee shops and meetings.

The Finance Minister, Tun Tan Siew Sin, said in Washington recently that to solve the present international monetary problems, instead of groping and floundering until the next crisis arises, “what is needed now and badly need too is the political will and the political courage to do what is right.” Continue reading Need for liberal and statesmanlike approach to problem of education