KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said although more pupils chose to answer science and maths in English in UPSR, the government would wait for the evaluation report from the education ministry before deciding whether it would continue to implement the PPSMI (teaching science and mathematics in English) policy.
Najib added that the government was currently studying the matter, and would not give any comment before receiving the report from the ministry.
UPSR results showed that more pupils answered science and maths in English compared to 2007.
On the other hand, Najib said the loosening of the bumiputra equity requirement for companies seeking a listing on Bursa Malaysia would not create confusion because it helped implement the government policies.
He said all companies must conform to the existing procedures for listing, but if bumiputra allocation was not fully subscribed by bumiputra institutions or retail investors, the balance equity could be offered to the general public.
Upon completion of this process, companies will then be deemed to have complied with the bumiputra equity requirements.
When asked whether the bumiputra equity requirement could not help improve the country's competitiveness, he said the requirement had been a government policy and the government had to ensure its effective implementation. (Translated by LEE MENG FUN/Sin Chew Daily)
