Assemblyman supports Johor Sultan's call

NUSAJAYA: A single stream education system with English as the medium of instruction would prove a boon for local graduates who currently find it difficult to land jobs in the private sector, said a Johor state assemblyman.
Speaking in the state assembly today, Datuk Tengku Putra Haron Aminurrashid Tengku HamidJumat (BN-Kempas) supported the call of Johor ruler, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar who last week said that Singapore's education system with English as the medium of instruction should be emulated, as it had helped to unite the various races in the country.
Tengku Putra added that the proposal is a way out for local graduates, because thousands of graduates could not get a job in the private sector because of a poor command of English, as such they had to join the public sector upon graduating.
He also added that such a system could help to unite the various races in the country and promote loyalty to the nation and the Malay rulers.
Meanwhile on Friday, Deputy Education Minister II, P. Kamalanathan said the Education Ministry welcomes the call of the Sultan of Johor for a single stream education system.
He said the ministry has always given emphasis on strengthening the use of the English language in the education system and now with the Sultan's call, the whole ministry appreciates and welcomes the idea.
"Of course we welcome and appreciate what the Sultan of Johor has called for, but I would also like remind the people that the government has always done its best in strengthening the English language in our education system.
"For instance we can take the policy of a compulsory pass in English in the SPM examinations starting next year," Kamalanathan told reporters after attending the the Megatech Nepal Earthquake Relief donation here.