He expressed his disappointment with Mahadzir for reportedly refusing to meet critics of the DLP in which 300 schools will use English to teach Science and Mathematics.
Addressing about 100 people taking part in a demonstration in front of Masjid Jamek today, Baharuddin said: “This is the third time I came to the street. I have no desire for power and money. Please sent my regards to the Prime Minister. Send my regards to the Education Minister who did not dare to meet us even when he said he is convinced all he did is for the benefit of the people.”
The other participants included academicians, prominent writers, activists and politicians. The sight of Baharuddin, who is known as Baha Zain, addressing the crowd drew the attention of the public and road users
Baha Zain, whose literary works have been translated into English, Spanish, Korean and other languages, was awarded the laureate title in 2013.
He said said he would not stop campaigning for the Malay language until it was given prominence by the government again.
A former deputy education director, Rauf Husin, said the DLP was just another form of the failed PPSMI policy for teaching Science and Mathematics in English which was withdrawn by the government after public protests in 2009 led to a revamped national educational blueprint in 2012.
Rauf said that the policy during his time at the ministry was for a ratio of 60:40 of pupils in the Science and Arts streams. However, the said ratio had worsened, with only 29 per cent of pupils in the Science stream.
Among academicians at today’s rally included Prof Emeritus Syaharil Mohd Zain, who led the anti-PPSMI group, Bukit Gantang MP Idris Ahmad, Batu MP Tian Chua, DAP’s Ronnie Liu and Malaysia Muslim Youth Movement (ABIM) president Raimi Rahim.
PAS Youth’s deputy leader Khalil Abdul Hadi announced that a bigger rally would be held at Dataran Merdeka on April 9 to press further for the withdrawal of the DLP.