TMI - Muhyiddin says no one sidelined under BN

KAJANG, Dec 26 — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin denied today the Barisan Nasional (BN) government had sidelined any group, after the Church and Malay rights group Perkasa clashed over whether Article 153 of the Constitution safeguarded the rights of all communities.

The deputy prime minister told thousands at the government’s Christmas open house here that the Najib administration “does not look at your background, religion or race” in formulating policy.

“No one is sidelined. All enjoy efforts to develop the nation,” the Umno deputy president said.

National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) chairman Reverend Dr Eu Hong Seng said on Saturday Article 153 is akin to “bullying” if it only protects the rights of one group.

But Perkasa responded by saying the Article helped keep the country peaceful, further claiming that the race riots of May 13, 1969 happened because it was not implemented properly.

“This country is peaceful because of Article 153 which protects the rights of Bumiputeras who are the majority in this country.

“The reverend needs to remember that Christians are able to practise their religion without worry in this country because of Article 153,” Perkasa secretary-general Syed Hasan Syed Ali said.





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TMI - Mat Sabu: Muhyiddin must also quit over NFC

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12 — Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin must step down along with Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil over his role in the National Feedlot Centre (NFC), Mohamad Sabu said today.

This was because Muhyiddin had been responsible for monitoring the publicly-funded cattle-raising scheme as agriculture and agro-based industry minister when the project began, the PAS number two explained.

“Shahrizat as a minister and spouse of NFC’s executive chairman... is also responsible, but more so Muhyiddin as (the former agriculture) minister.

“Therefore, not only does Shahrizat have to resign but Muhyiddin as well,” Mohamad told the PAS party organ Harakah Daily today.

His call was seconded by PAS vice president Datuk Dr Mahfuz Omar, who said any investigation into the alleged abuse of public funds meant for the controversial project must be extended to the Agriculture Ministry.

It was unwise to focus only on Women, Family and Community Minister Shahrizat as the NFC had been awarded to her husband on orders from the ministry and the High-Impact Project Committee, Mahfuz said.

“Did the committee itself make the decision without Cabinet approval?” he asked.

“Muhyiddin as the former (agriculture) minister also bears responsibility. We want to know what discussions took place [that prompted the] Cabinet to approve this project.”

Mahfuz added that the public did not want to see a repeat of the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal, which only came to light when then-transport minister Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik stepped down.

read more at TheMalaysianInsider.com

FMT - Pembangkang 100 kali lebih rasis

KUALA LUMPUR: Timbalan Presiden Umno Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin hari ini menolak tanggapan awam bahawa parti itu bersifat rasis kerana hanya mempertahankan hak sesuatu kaum sahaja.

Sebaliknya beliau menganggap pihak yang melakukan tohmahan itu jauh lebih rasis berbanding Umno.

“Cuma orang yang bersikap terlalu rasis sahaja, sepanjang masa, apabila satu pihak bercakap tentang satu kaum, dia kata kita rasis.

“Padahal mereka tidak sedar dia 100 kali lebih rasis daripada kita,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas ucapan perasmian oleh Presiden parti Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak pada Perhimpunan Agung Umno di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra (PWTC) di sini hari ini.

Katanya, walaupun Umno jelas merupakan parti politik tunggal bagi kaum Melayu, namun parti itu sanggup bekerjasama dan berkongsi kuasa dan memperjuangkan hak kaum lain demi perpaduan.

Katanya, sebagai tunjang perjuangan Melayu, Umno tetap bersedia sama ada parti itu berada dalam keadaan kuat atau lemah.

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TMI - Muhyiddin uses race card, urges Malays to reject Pakatan

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29 — Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin exploited the race card tonight when he urged Umno to defend the Malay race, culture and institutions from the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

Hitting out at the DAP in particular, he accused the PR party of being an anti-Islam and anti-Malay force.

Muhyiddin (picture) also dismissed PKR as a spent force interested only in championing the cause of one man, and PAS as a party that had shed its Islamic ideology to please the DAP.

“(The DAP) do not respect royal institutions, insult government officers who are mostly Malay, slander our armed forces with insults, dispute our enforcement institutes, dismiss the credibility of our justice system and make a fool out of the Malays to gain power for themselves,” he said when opening Umno’s Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings’ annual general assemblies here.

“DAP’s agenda to form a republic by dismissing values, history and identity of Malaysia as a nation based on sovereignty and Islam as the official religion is evident,” he added.

“If not, do they dare suggest the prime minister’s position be selected based solely on elections and without being chosen by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong? What is the meaning of this?”

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TMI - Confirmed! Muhyiddin is a racist, says Guan Eng

UMNO Deputy President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s proud defence of UMO’s racist agenda and that he is Malay First and Malaysian second only proves that 1Malaysia is an empty slogan designed to win votes and rapidly discarded after the next general elections. What is surprising is that Muhyiddin does not consider illogical or inconsistent with pursuing a strictly racial Malay agenda with the agenda of other non-Malay Malaysians.

Muhyiddin even pursues the perverse logic that DAP leaders such as Lim Kit Siang and myself are Chinese chauvinists even though DAP has fought for all Malaysians and our membership open to all including Malays, Indians Ibans and Kadazans. Muhyiddin conveniently ignores the fact that I was imprisoned and lost my parliamentary seat for defending an underaged Malay rape victim who was detained instead of her rapists.

DAP is no threat to Malays. Only UMNO is a threat to Malays and Malaysians with its open acceptance and defence of repressive violation of basic human rights, corruption and abuse of power.

By using such fear and threats, UMNO can justify and cover up its numerous financial and corruption scandals that has cost Malaysia hundreds of billions of ringgit such as:_

-the latest exposes of excessive expenditure of RM3.7 billion by government departments in the 2010 Auditor-General’s Report without any punishment imposed; and

-the controversy of allowing public funds to a company related to a Minister, that was meant for rearing cows but misused to purchase high-end luxury condominiums.

read more at Malaysia-Chronicle.com

FMT - Muhyiddin ingatkan rakyat Kedah jangan silap lagi

SUNGAI PETANI: Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin meminta rakyat Kedah tidak mengulangi kesilapan sekali lagi dengan memilih calon bukan Barisan Nasional (BN) pada pilihan raya umum akan datang sekiranya mahu melihat lebih banyak pembangunan berlaku di negeri ini.

Ketika menyampaikan ucapan ringkas selepas bersarapan pagi bersama orang ramai di Pekan Sungai Lalang Lama di sini, beliau berharap rakyat dapat membuat pertimbangan sebaik-baiknya untuk memilih parti yang akan memerintah Kedah kelak.

“…yang penting kerajaan pusat akan terus bantu rakyat Kedah hidup lebih selesa namun rakyat mempunyai pilihan untuk memilih meminta bantuan daripada Perdana Menteri atau Menteri Besar,” kata Timbalan Perdana Menteri.

Terdahulu, ketibaan Muhyiddin di pekan itu dengan menaiki bas ekspres dari Butterworth kira-kira pukul 8.50 pagi disambut pemimpin dan anggota parti komponen BN daripada MCA, MIC, PPP dan Gerakan.

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FMT - Muhyiddin arah bantuan RM100 diberi sepenuhnya

BANGI: Pihak sekolah perlu mengagih-agihkan pemberian bantuan kerajaan sebanyak RM100 kepada pelajar sepenuhnya, tanpa membuat sebarang pemotongan, kata Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Beliau yang juga Menteri Pelajaran berkata arahan sudah dikeluarkan dan langkah itu bagi merealisasikan apa yang diumumkan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak dalam Belanjawan 2012 bulan lepas, dapat dinikmati rakyat.

“Mudah saja, tiap-tiap pelajar yang berada dalam sistem pendidikan negara, sama ada dalam sekolah kerajaan atau swasta, semua layak dapat.

“Tanggungjawab guru, jangan soal, beri RM100 bagi tiap-tiap pelajar kepada ibu bapa. Itu saja. Dan saya sudah beritahu dan arahan, jangan ada pemotongan dan jangan buat takfisran pelbagai. Serah dulu RM100.

“Jika ada cita-cita lain nak beri PIBG (Persatuan Ibu Bapa dan Guru) atau nak buat itu ini, itu soal kedua tetapi untuk menunjukkan bahawa apa yang disebutkan oleh Perdana Menteri dalam bajet bahawa itu benar-benar berlaku, maka sekolah yang bertanggungjawab mesti sampaikan jumlah yang disebutkan, RM100 tidak lebih dan tidak kurang,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas menyampaikan Anugerah Ilham Desa peringkat Kebangsaan di sini hari ini.

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MC - Arrogant DPM tells public: Up to you what you wish to think of NFC

As Umno leaders, one after another, trooped out to defend Wanita chief Shahrizat Jalil, with many shortsightedly going to extent of tarnishing their own credibility and reputation, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin - also the Umno deputy president - outdid them all.

He was not at all bothered what everyday Malaysians think about the RM250 million NFC financial debacle involving a national beef production project and accusations that it had been corruptly granted to Shahrizat's family.

“We will leave it to the people to decide whether to accept the NFC’s explanation or not because the NFC has explained each issue that has surfaced,” Muhyiddin told reporters at a press conference.

“For us, the government, we know the truth. We don’t buy stories made up by the Opposition."

read more at Malaysia-Chronicle.com

TSD - Flexible PPSMI option is feasible, Muhyiddin says

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 8, 2011): Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin defended the government's decision to allow some flexibility in choosing the medium to learn Science and Mathematics for those affected by the scrapping of the policy to teach the subjects in English, saying it was feasible.

“Parents need not worry because the schools will be able to facilitate (the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English or PPSMI) according to the needs and suitability in the respective schools.

“It can be done,” he told a press conference after meeting the first batch of 50 top graduates, who will teach in schools in disadvantaged communities, under the Teach for Malaysia programme.

Reiterating the policy is “only to make things easier” for the students, Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister said the most important issue is in ensuring that the classes continue without any confusion in schools, especially in regards to the ministry's decision to allow students to transfer to schools that offer the subjects in English.

read more at TheSunDaily.my

FMT - DPM: Questioning animal sacrifices uncalled for

KUALA LUMPUR: The move made by a non-Muslim non-governmental organisation to urge authorities to stop the practice of animal sacrifice in schools and public places is uncalled for, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said.

He said this was because it could touch the sensitivities of the Muslim community who had been living with the non-Muslim community with high tolerance for all these years.

“I don’t think that the issue should be raised. This will only lead to misunderstandings. It can touch the sensitivities of Muslims and their religious practices.
“In Malaysia, it has been a part of our culture for generations. We do it because Islam requires us to do so.

“It is also being done according to the methods and regulations stipulated by the Veterinary Department, which requires that the cleanliness in the areas should be preserved so that the meat distributed to the poor is safe for consumption,” he told reporters after attending a dialogue with the Teach for Malaysia Fellowship participants here today.

Muhyiddin was commenting on the official statement issued by the Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) last Friday, urging that the sacrifice of animals in public places, especially cows, which are considered by Hindus to be holy animals, to be stopped.

“I hope such an issue will not be raised again, especially by the non-Muslims because they may not understand the practice or they probably raised ithe issue on purpose. Let’s not create more problems in Malaysia,” he said.

Nevertheless, Muhyiddin said that the practice of animal sacrifice should be approved by the authorities before it is carried out.

read more at FreeMalaysiaToday.com

FMT - It’s raining goodies in Johor

MUAR: After Pakatan Rakyat declared its intention of making inroads into Barisan Nasional’s stronghold of Johor, the ruling coalition is leaving nothing to chance, especially when it concerns Indian voters.

These voters are being showered with cash and hampers, and leading the goodie train is none other than Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman.

An ex-MIC state leader told FMT that while the Indians here have been traditional supporters of BN, the party leaders however are not taking this granted.

“Even though in some of the constituencies, Indian voters are as low as three or five percent, they still may be the deciding factor in ensuring that Johor remains a BN fortress,” he said.

Among others, the menteri besar announced that the state government has allocted RM500,000 for the construction of a Sri Murugan Centre (SMC) Ashramam in Muar town.

This is in addition to the education grant of RM100,000 a year allocated for the centre since 2007. The centre provides tuition for children from the lower income bracket.

Speaking to FMT, state SMC co-ordinator P Subramaniam said the RM500,000 was promised by the state government prior to the 2008 general election to support the centre’s effort in securing a plot of land for the construction of the ashramam.

“We are happy to get the money, but we will seek further funds from the state to complete the RM2.5 million ashramam,” he added.

read more at FreeMalaysiaToday.com

MC - Speed bump for Muhyiddin: Power equation in Umno tilts back to Najib

The power equation in Umno seems to have tilted again, this time back to Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is expected to face a strong challenge for the Umno presidency from his deputy, Muhyiddin Yassin, next year.

The indications were clear after influential former premier Mahathir Mohamad publicly chided Muhyiddin over an educational policy, suggesting that Malaysians could call on Najib to overturn the DPM's decision if they found it unacceptable.

Muhyiddin had given strong warning that he wanted to abolish PPSMI or the teaching and learning of Mathematics and Science in English, and revert the medium of instruction to Bahasa Malaysia.

Many accused him of of sabre-rattling and trying to score brownie points with the Malay electorate and Umno members ahead of the party's December annual assembly. Indeed his rhetoric to stand up for the use of Bahasa Malaysia as being the patriotic thing do served to compound his racist image.

But worse than that, he stepped on Mahathir's toes.

Not all Malays want PPSMI dumped

It was the 85-year-old former PM who had introduced PPSMI, just months before he retired, leaving the hot potato with his successors. Apart from Umno-linked NGOs like Perkasa, most of the serious and established Malay groups including a large chunk of the teaching profession have been vocal in their demands for a language reversion to Malay.

Nonetheless, there are obviously many Malay professionals, especially from the urban areas, who also prefer English as the medium of instruction for the two subjects. Otherwise, it would not have been so easy for Mahathir to secure Muhyiddin's about-turn.

Just like Najib, the DPM has been been careful to stay in Mahathir's good books. Najib himself had tried to dismantle some of Mahathir's policies, including liberalising the economy, but had to give up his plans after Mahathir ganged up with Muhyiddin to pressure him.

As the incumbent party president, Najib has a chance, albeit slim, to fend off any challenge from Muhyiddin if Mahathir remained neutral. But if Mahathir were to side Muhyiddin, it would be curtains for the PM. This has been the tactic used by Mahathir to keep Najib toeing the line. And he is also using it against Muhyiddin now.

read more at Malaysia-Chronicle.com

TMI - Pro-BM group wants PPSMI scrapped immediately

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 — PPSMI (the teaching and learning of mathematics and science in English) remains abolished but a Bahasa Malaysia lobby group here is demanding Putrajaya discontinue the policy immediately instead of gradually phasing it out.

Gerakan Mansuhkan PPSMI (GMP) insisted that the government’s continuance would indicate it is “not serious” with its plan to revert to using Bahasa Malaysia as the medium of instruction for the two subjects.

Its chairman Prof Dr Shaharir Mohd Zain pointed out that under Putrajaya’s decision on Friday, PPSMI would only be completely phased out in nine years, during which time the government could still change its mind.


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TSD - No flip-flop in PPSMI issue

MUAR ( Nov 5, 2011) : Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today defended the government's decision on the policy on the Teaching and
Learning of Science and Mathematics in English, (PPSMI), stressing that there was no "flip-flop" on the matter.

Muhyiddin who is Education Minister said the decision to scrap the policy was
made after a careful study.

"All Members of Parliament, including those from the opposition, supported when we decided to implement the Upholding Bahasa Malaysia, Strengthening the Command of English policy, (MBMMBI), which replaces the PPSMI," he told reporters after handing over sacrificial cows in conjunction with the Aidiladha at Sri Pekembar Hall, here.

He said a study by the ministry showed that only between 5% to 7% of schools under the ministry were using English when the PPSMI policy was
in force from 2003, while the rest either used mixed language or Bahasa Malaysia in full.

The Cabinet yesterday agreed to allow all students under the Teaching and Learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) policy to continue learning the subjects in English until Form Five.

Meanwhile, MCA President Datuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek welcomed the Cabinet decision to let PPSMI be maintained for students who have started learning the subjects in the language.

"It is good to note that students in Year Two to Form Four will continue under the policy until they complete their secondary school education," he said, adding that the Deputy Prime Minister's announcement has paved the way for clear guidelines on the matter and put an end to any confusion.

Chua added that the soft landing approach to the issue has also provided schools the option to teach the two subjects fully in English, Bahasa Malaysia or bilingually.

read more at TheSunDaily.my

FMT - Calls to keep PPSMI policy for future generations

PETALING JAYA: There is a sense of relief that the students will be allowed to continue learning Mathematics and Science in English but at the same time parents want the policy to be continued for future generations.

“What has been announced is a half measure, it is not a total reinstatement of PPSMI…it is a knee-jerk reaction because of the demands of parents. This is just a move to please as the elections are around the corner.

“English is important for scientific knowledge. the body of knowledge of Math and Science are in English,” said Shamsudin Bin Hamid a father of four school-going children.

” The younger generation should not be deprived of this.” he said.

Yesterday, Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the cabinet has decided to allow students under the PPSMI policy to continue learning Mathematics and Science in English or in Bahasa Malaysia.

Muhyiddin who is also the Deputy Prime Mnister said that this was this is to address the concerns of parents whose children are already studying the subjects in English.

However, he said that the abolishment of PPSMI as decided in 2009 still stands and
students coming into Standard One next year will learn the two subjects in Malay as the MBMMBI (Upholding the Malay Language, Strengthening the English Language) commences.

Shamsudin said Bahasa Malaysia as the national language will still be given importance as a medium of instruction for other subjects.

“I fully support former primer Mahathir Mohamad’s suggestion that other subjects such as history and geography should be thought in Malay, as it is our national language, but it is imperative for Math and Science to be thought in English,” he said.

Another parent, Lee Hui Seng, whose 16 year-old son is studying in a school in PJ said all parents whose children are directly affected will be happy however the struggle must continue to keep this debate alive.

“(After 2020) the government will have another batch of parents screaming at them for the policy (MBMMBI) to be reversed.

Lee also disagreed with Muhyiddin statement that the PAGE (Parents Action Group for Education), was a minority group.

Muhyiddin had said that he group only “knew how to make demands” and brushed them aside as a minority group.

read more at FreeMalaysiaToday.com

TSD - Students under PPSMI can continue till Form 5

PUTRAJAYA (Nov 4, 2011): The cabinet today agreed to allow all students under the Teaching and Learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) policy to continue learning the subjects in English until Form Five.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said this meant that primary school pupils in the PPSMI cohort could opt whether to continue learning Science and Mathematics in English or Bahasa Malaysia fully, or in both languages when they enter Form One beginning next year.

"Thus, the teaching and learning of Mathematics and Science in primary schools will only be implemented fully in Bahasa Malaysia in 2016 while in secondary schools it will be implemented in 2021.

"With the decision, the abolition of the PPSMI is upheld. The government does not intend to reimplement the PPSMI as demanded by certain groups," he said at a media conference, here today.

He said that the government hoped the decision to allow the PPSMI cohort to continue learning in the English Language up to Form Five could please the parents.

read more at TheSunDaily.my

FMT - PM backs scrapping PPSMI, says Muhyiddin

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 4 — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin insisted today the decision to abolish PPSMI (teaching and learning of mathematics and science in English) has the full backing of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak

The Education Minister, who is also Najib’s deputy, told reporters here that the prime minister was consulted on the matter before he left for Mecca.

“Yes, I have consulted him... before he left for Mecca. The government is with us.

“It is not my decision (alone), I do not have such powers. It is the decision of the Cabinet and the PM is agreeable to the decision to abolish PPSMI,” he said.

Muhyiddin however added that despite backing the abolition of PPSMI, Najib had also expressed the need to improve on students’ English language skills.

“He asked if the content of English literature could be increased,” he said.

Muhyiddin was responding to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s remarks today that Najib (picture) could still override the decision to abolish PPSMI.

Dr Mahathir, who is still widely influential in Umno after serving as PM for 22 years, said the current prime minister should do so for the good of the country.

read more at TheMalaysianInsider.com

FMT - Overrule Muhyiddin, Dr M tells Najib

KUALA LUMPUR: In a fresh twist to the PPSMI saga, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s mentor Dr Mahathir Mohamad has asked the former to overturn his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin’s plan to scrap the policy.

He said maintaining PPSMI, which was Mahathir’s brainchild, is good for the country’s future and urged Najib to stop Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, from substituting the policy with the national language instead of English.

“The idea of going back to Bahasa (Malaysia) in (to teach) Mathematics and Science will make us all very backward.

“If it is something for the good of the country, not only the education minister, but everybody can be overridden,” he was quoted as saying in Langkawi by news reports.

read more at FreeMalaysiaToday.com

TMI - DPM: Last PPSMI batch allowed to finish in English

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 4 — Students already in the PPSMI system (science and mathematics in English) may continue in it until the completion of their secondary education, the government announced today.

But Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin stressed that it did not mean the government was making a U-turn in its decision to scrap the policy.

“With this decision, the abolition of PPSMI stays. The government does not plan to reintroduce the policy, as requested by several parties,” he told a press conference today.

Muhyiddin explained that today’s decision meant that students between Year Three and Form Five next year would be allowed the option of learning science and mathematics in Bahasa Malaysia, English or both languages, as allowed under PPSMI, until they complete their primary and secondary education.

read more at TheMalaysianInsider.com

FMT - PPSMI: Muhyiddin told to back claim with data

PETALING JAYA: Kita chief Zaid Ibrahim today demanded that Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin provide data to support his claim that the policy of teaching Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) has failed.

He pointed out that Muhyiddin’s statement yesterday contradicted a claim attributed to his predecessor at the Education Ministry, Hishammuddin Hussein.

Muhyiddin claimed yesterday that the government’s decision to scrap PPSMI rested on a “firm basis”. He said the decision was in fact made in 2009, after an evaluation of the effectiveness of the policy.

“We at the ministry do not make hasty decisions,” he said. “We make decisions not based on politics, but on what is best for the people and the nation. We have enough information on PPSMI. We know how PPSMI was implemented and its outcome.”

Zaid said it was not enough for the ministry to claim to know better; it must provide evidence to back its claim.

He added that Muhyiddin needed to explain the contradiction between his statement and the news reports in November 2008 that quoted Hishammuddin as saying that students had been doing better in the UPSR examination since the PPSMI was introduced.

According to the reports, Hishammuddin said it was possible that the improved performance was due to PPSMI.

“Muhyiddin must show us the data during his tenure and compare it to Hishammuddin’s tenure, and the public can decide,” said Zaid.

read more at FreeMalaysiaToday.com