Fadillah: MA63 meeting to address Sarawak's push for English in STEM, Cancer Centre plans
KUCHING (Aug 17): The Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) Technical Committee meeting tomorrow will discuss Sarawak's demand to use English as the medium of instruction for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), said Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
The Deputy Prime Minister said one of the challenges in fulfilling this demand is ensuring uniformity of curriculum nationwide.
'We have a national policy which applies across Malaysia. So if Sarawak moves away from this policy, there may no longer be uniformity.
'So we will have to find a way to facilitate Sarawak's demand to use English in the learning of STEM,' he said when met by reporters after attending a function at Jalan Sultan Tengah here today.
When asked whether this demand is in line with the Dual Language Programme (DPL) being implemented in Sarawak, Fadillah said: 'That will be among the matters to be discussed tomorrow.'
He added that another matter that will also be deliberated is the proposed Sarawak Cancer Centre.
Recently, Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the development of the Sarawak Cancer Centre will be tabled and discussed at MA63 Committee meeting tomorrow.
The state Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister said discussions with the Sarawak Health Department had also been held to ensure the centre's planning meets the actual needs of end-users.
According to Dr Sim, the proposed plan has been finalised, as Sarawak is going to build a hospital.
'As for the number of beds, I stated during the meeting in April that Sarawak specialists and Sarawak General Hospital had proposed 310, so I am sticking to that figure. I strongly support them because 200 beds will not be enough,' he said.
On Saturday, Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong called for an update on the proposed Sarawak Cancer Centre, urging the Sarawak government to keep Sarawakians informed.
The Democratic Action Party lawmaker added that the centre, recently discussed at the federal level, is a life-saving necessity rather than a luxury.
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