PUTRAJAYA – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has clarified his remarks on bringing in English teachers from Singapore, saying it is a proposal to have volunteers paid by their government to teach students from needy communities.
He said it was not true that Malaysia would “appoint” teachers from Singapore, stressing that what he discussed with his Singapore counterpart Lawrence Wong during the latter’s recent visit was for a volunteer programme as part of an assistance scheme.
“What I am talking about with the Singaporean PM is to organise an aid scheme of appointing volunteers who are paid by the Singaporean government to teach English in poor urban and rural areas as well as remote areas of Sabah and Sarawak,” Bernama reports Anwar saying.
The prime minister was speaking at the Madani Aspiration Gathering of Public Service Counselling Associates here today.
Anwar’s clarification follows criticism online and from several quarters after he mentioned the possibility of Singapore sending teachers “to teach English or some other subjects to many regions in this country” during his joint press-conference with Wong on Wednesday.
Wong had been on his maiden visit to Malaysia as newly installed Singapore prime minister.
Anwar today said the proposal was aimed at building better relations with other countries, and one way was to have them send volunteer teachers to underserved communities such as the urban poor and students in remote and rural areas, including in Sabah and Sarawak.
He said Wong was prepared to consider this invitation, adding that similar exchange programmes had been held for Malaysian lecturers with universities in other countries.
Among those who criticised Anwar’s initial remarks were former international trade and industry minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, who said Malaysia would have to spend more to pay their salaries. She said Malaysia should tap into its pool of retired teachers instead. – June 14, 2024