MIC upset with PMR question

KUALA LUMPUR: The MIC expressed dismay over a question in the Pernilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) History examination paper, which portrays as though Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools were a hindrance to national unity. SK Devamany, who was an academic before deciding to plunge into the world of politics, said such questions were contrary to the philosophy of education and "I believe this kind of questions were in the paper with bad intentions".

"Basically, the PMR is to raise the educational level of our country and not vice verse. Our country achieved independence 53 years ago. But still there are some groups trying to raise questions that seem inappropriate," Devamany, deputy minister in the prime minister's department, told FMT.Having being an educator for 20-years, Devamany said such questions gave a connotation that vernacular schools had a negative effect on national unity when it did not.He said the onus was on the Education Ministry to ensure questions set by the Examination Board were clear of any controversies and if it found that any Examination Board officer had erred in his duties, then action should be taken against the officer.

"I call on the the Education Ministry immediately to suspend the officer. This is not the first time this has happened... instead of being an isolated incident, this is becoming a norm. The Examination Board should be sensitive in setting questions," he added.This year's PMR examination was hit with controversy after it was discovered that a question in the History paper had portrayed as though vernacular schools (Chinese and Tamil) were a stumbling block to national integration.

Below is question 49 of the History exam paper, which was in Bahasa Malaysia:

49. Senarai berikut berkaitan dengan sistem pendidikan di negara kita sebelum merdeka.

Sekolah vernakular Melayu

Sekolah vernakular Cina

Sekolah vernakular India

Apakah kesan pelaksanaan sistem pendidikan tersebut?

A. Penempatan baru bertambah

B. Perpaduan rakyat sukar dicapai

C. Penghijrahan penduduk ke bandar

D. Perbelanjaan pengurusan meningkat


The answer to this question is supposed to have been B. This indirectly states that the establishment of Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools had resulted in the failure to achieve national unity. There are no Malay vernacular schools currently as they have been converted to national-type schools.

Weed out racist officers

Meanwhile, MIC Youth said the Education Ministry should weed out racist officers who are allowed to set questions according to their whims and fancies.Its information chief S Subramaniam told FMT that instead of working towards a better Malaysian society, those setting and vetting these public examination papers were bent on disrupting national unity through their "mind-boggling questions".

He said while the prime minister was working hard to maintain the Malaysian social fabric, there were some in the civil service wanting to tear down this fabric, which had been a unique feature of the country.He also slammed the Examination Board for not being careful in vetting public examination questions."This racist attitude of some civil servants had exceeded the tolerable limit. The leaders in the government should put a full stop to this," he added. Subramaniam said the Youth wing would hold a emergency meeting soon to discuss this matter.

Source : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/fmt-english/politics/barisan-nasional/11527-mic-upset-with-pmr-question