2t4'

. Lee, Molly.N.N.

Inhoduction .

mmifcsred ii urc'forrr of language ;-uJs f* rherc is.a powcrful'link betureen cult.r" inC -f"niuog..'i;;&;; alw:ys becn in the iorcfmnr of raciat .=,fr"i" bontticrs in "ira muldcrrlfirral socicties bccause ir is vcry closcty dared ro jculrural
idcntiry ind cconomic opporturiiries- fra'"f"i;J

be in.a bomogcneous socicry bur ir is a dcinirc problem in mrilticulrtral iiiieries, as ii rhe case;;;;; Southeast Asian countries_ The question lhcn ari.ses as to whosc,crtlturc is to be transmirtcd. This problcnr is ofien

- A major fimaion of educalion has becn the transmission ofcuhurc from generalon rogcnemtion.This function may not
problematic

retat ions (Akcrman & I*c. lggg): Most contact Uct*eL ori,rrk doeslot-occur in pcaccful, harmqrious

stratification and diffcrentiation in. intcrlroup

dcgrccsoi"* *Ir"*i ra.ri of evcry compering recial,srr.ucrure (Nctdc,"["r*t"*iics "L fryZ)_inlf,ei w6pd5. *1g ptu ratiry rhat ex isrs in mof slie& i, g,ir ; ;;;.* tu, 1n of cqual?. \r/hen onc considcn Unjuafi. "i;y, *" iius,o .r-#, rheir funcrions in rerms or aoccsJ torp"ri,i""r. p"** l"i
ecofisnb, rcwards
Itnguisricdemands may mask"r"* m;rt"#;J"o_-r*ni,Jo] goals conccrrcd w.ith political and ecunomic powcr (racob * Bcir. I 985: Katantjos a at., t 9g9). In rhis papei

ries. Rarher. ir exhibirs varying and valuadihcrcnccs wl,[h

cucxutng communi-

;;;;;

ffi

same.political lntiry ahd, even noo,. .*.6* in on. inVariably lpve rcpcrcussions in the orhcr. "oun,.y
policiesas rvdll as' rhe conse.quenccs of tbtsc policbs in reiliof .tnL equalirl,aad social imobility in borh thcse s.ocieries. ftte.ururll.sis'rvill be on rhe --''-" : post-indcpcndcocc .

*dffi;;; f J"ii ,*ifrf Singaporc havc becn choscn ,, "J sruOy Ui""r*, ,connicr"pcrspectivc ro proriae a criricil annil;;;;_; " "o*prrari.," both thcsc couritrics sharc a comnror irisgr1,. lndcd. ar ooc lartguagb polieies are Uo*, rhe ouromc .i;;; ;ffi;;; rimc, berween 963 and 1965, rhcy ,n"..Iil*nenrs of rhe (especially cthnic conflic0
f

pointcd out

Ui,,L.

and rhe vchiltc marion. This paper wilt focus on:

;i sociat transfor.

_ The purposc of this paper rrr examine rhe.socio-polirical forces thalslaped rhe language
i.s

t.

tha

conflicr:

rclarionship berween laoguage policies and ethnic

and berweqn languagc policies aadctass strug_

2- . ghe rclarionship

cra. .,

3.

gle

rhe rclarionship between

etic and iate intercsrs

Theoretical perspcctivei
A.

, :.

Language and ethnic confl ict -

for una! ysing langua_ee poi ;Ues is r he fu ncrionr I r heory. tioall theory views yarue consensus iL\ ir tuntranrentat tr.rrsis for the srability of the sociul sJrsrcnr- lr irresses shurcrl vulues
errrphasises

very common rheorcdcat perspecrive rhar is

be i n

a used -Func_

:fh1 raciat compgsirion in Malaysia is 46,g% [{alays.

% Chinese. 9.0% Indians.

urd

nation*l identity rnd unity. Tlre ,atirmul i.,i,:uur* is rr.e o[

thesc symbols. This approuch has

Beer. 1985). The ustrill Rreurneni i.s rh:rr ttrr.. irlu ,.,t-rhc nar ionstirtc is very nerv lo nrany sourhclsr Asirn c,rntrics: :rnrl hcinr nervly indepemlent they huvc to sc:rrctt lirr.sr.tuhrl.. lirl
11r"-,1.

rhe common concerns thlt unit,r.societies. l,r rh.. corilext of mutricurrunr.socierie.s- rungulgc ;s orr"n .-,,tt.ct upon to play both conrmtrqric:iriveland intcsniiirr frrnctiolrs. Many .st udies have hi gh lithrctl r lrr. re lir r iurih i pi . ** l...ccn a,r - hEc:rn're thc nlrional .taoguagc in M"tayrial. Tlrc inrpl",,renrugulge po,licies.and nlrion-huilding. cspccir,rlly nrrrtxrg rhe tion of rhc narionul rnnguage poricy was to be srorv nnrt vlrious plunrl societies in Sorrthe:,rr e*i,, rfr". f llaif"n-r:nrduut. wirh:r provisio'rhar English be usecr ls thc officirl lnneuasc It)78: Lcc. 1979: Copinarhan. lt)ftg: N'sr. tr)S-t: Jau,h & lirr at ls.ast :rnor[er lco year.s. The linr aen yeilrs of inOc]enilI

it is i7 .7 qG Chinese, I 4. I % Malay s. l.l ?c Indiansorhen I . I % (Tay t9g2),.Alihough rhe rhiee major 1nd nces in borh :hese countries arc rhe same..Chinese is rhe.dorninanr . group in Singapore bur only a large minoriiy in Mrla1,5in. , Ar rhe rirrre of independcnce in 1957. rhi Mata-,.- t,,nguage

orhrr nativc groups and 1.47c oihers,- ln rhe case of .Singaporc.

3i7r

]a-:

i.?9t Dayaks. t g7r

.

K adazans.

L'rrcr. \s:rs ch:rnreter;.\ed by rn'<xlerutc Ma tay na t ion

*'hiqh rimc Errglish rcmaincd

:r I

r,ulticthnic

t-'rigirrs and ttylrarnics

ir.s lirnir:rrions.esprcilrllt ir, rlrc srrrtly ol. -socictics- irt thut ir sr'ltkr*r c.rpr,rcs rhe ,.r*rcriul

ol etlr,icitv a,rrl its rrtlc ;'

urcurirrr:

:rrl,rinisrr:rrivc. educrtionirr arrdcconruuic purpri..siTan. t 97$). Afrer rhe May l3 r:rciut riors in 1969. tlrc poliricrl climirre iu Malaysin took a tlistinclive turn towurtts n,tlicol Mal:ty nntioltrlisnr. The Mulay languagc beclrnc tlu solc ofticill luneualre il'rl rlrc .uri, rrrecliurn o[ instructi.n in sch.o]s. Sr.rriig in I97(). rll the sovcrnmerrt-aitled Entlish_rrrcrlirrnt school.s hcl()7

tht rnain lunguage usccl

isnr cltr ri n s trrlr

{t\

+1<ir,.l:Ers+,:i::_r-3f,*ijir:rii-,r;qr:a.i-rf,.i*ig+:!iiq,:4&i.:is1-:r,,gt:i*iriip.ip+F{rrllf

_ ..-

1.":

Tlts Folitb! of

trngtrgc e Cofiporlivc Sru{ of I'lrleysia md $iagrpue 209

f-laryt&.lch.lgotitieo-.oecratlonltinrctrrionl'vhilc tl?&qeq,rgu,lqetr.?o;ouil*oti,,rrinHigir.dlr""ra bc cralc motlEr iltc kler.l CouEiltGd in irrorrofrhc gw"n rncoi h fggi e ryT|1tn cultural inagndonl {fpo. -T'-T$rd tgzc}. Thc slogur ls.:.114i* ror rd l9&l respocuvap er . *i 1ooprrcrtcrlnelrd5ritrr*ron r.rI{Tr.rigo,ig,:1Foru1ey, , incaescc ;ili.;bHn b"-.;-irilr;trnL-*ril uo* "or,*q*il.

moffiit 'nrl8rc$,.rqchnology!$C"miogrtpdg*rrrrg!,

f$uutttcgeu;;lirlrGiGclcd***4tO;**
Cr*

Shcs dro vrriors Grpgime$ts havc bccn arritd or* in

as Oincrcasc thc'langulgp Grposur3 timc. rspally wirh thc inrcnt of iocreasing cxpodir"'ro English-in rxrn: .Slrc-Drrd-Frlithelt4itirnetion English schools (Noss, 1984)- Aficr mudr cxpcrimcniation, Thc polirical-dcvctopnrcnt in Melaysia, sirrc i@pend.'thc Ncm E'lucadon s!6tcm was implcmcntod in t9?8 uhcie onc-ofthcnqlortuq*.srpamingpupitsaoorainqio enac, h.r bocn onc rr," their rcedemic abititicc, N_ot all Prrpils arc rcquircd q folibw M"t"ri", .tat" b ; l4eiar$6tn ",ti& rd rirulriednh oatidon thc bilingml prc8ramflle Orly rhcablcsr pupils arc givcn rhc .rn*g thc Malay, Oilrd, *a frUi- clilec Tt,o dominanr -*r,nls.-of

sctroolsso

i;;it'#"r"iriril
tm
nrain

l- G 'ry""i* pririlcgcs. *T* pup,ts hhl,lfirst" Ianguagc and a *sccood" L .*i*euaio;;nor. of rhc Malays, agd t' ' _P," -{uhguagc (o.g."Ell an&rCl2},,end thc wcakcst pupils.arc :. - . :t
:qflt'ltomrtolingp*gqrscsrwhidrareusuallyaugtrtin Eogti#(soo'l9s&'art'Eorsufodionbr*reooucariona

opPorenit, to do two t tusti Fgr:g* G..g., ELI .atd.Gll)t and possitrly a [rird lar$ngc (cg; Germar). Thcavcragc ard

,.

U"ofo,,

ir,

u"rlirn

fancs:

- syslatwi6eccrphasisof"&rglb&faAll-wasdoncmthe srlrcdin'$idp.t tt";;d"rtbrhcMilryshrtt,rnfor basisihatbiling$.lismircipoclcd,utrtducc.ilrcincqdtics"l hc grrniag.of ciEzcn$ip ro immigmr grory, rher.irC drc occtpatioralrdrhvcmcr*bctwccnOrcpoglidrducalcdand clr#sc aruil Indirns. Todty thc

ThEfrst fcetqc is a oqrcornc of &c negoriefions ar thc rinrcof 6d borg3ioing rElthlayr*err populetion

of achicving rtrcsc oryccrittcs was-$rrousrrrre rang;Acrndrslem rhgofficialiirgronr.r,irrtffirro" *riig llil" ,b", ;iilI;ilimsr oco*rcrs io rl* M;;; policict''AsobscrvcdbyMauzy(1985)'drcinansificationof cuhulisesscnrta;;,hc**tval;,t-lrfi;;il**ri r. rle usc of Matav in cducarion wes also aired at provi(ing qucsrio'ail;J;r;;;;;-"r;pil;;ti;;;. epportunitirs and advantages for Malays to *catch up' ii m& 'Malays- out or rnn-*iays (Mauz1 l9g5). comphtc .,h.
tant'rnicans

lg80). dictirrqi{tcdinrbtrogou#iliFil.frffi'*h;j"l over oocs ueiri-r.y-d-iffi;iii,*,"y}6;["t;;-rrigruaurcttfihcpoprlatioriofMataysiafonoulcdosrin"tconic *t a of ro prorcct thc lincs' rlre cconomic irmballcc anrcng thc various.cthnic Bumiputri's oor,orrrL "at Mairrysie ratce upm itsc]{ NEp, thc statc intctcsts. utgcr t51 group tcsultcd in thc raeial riors in 1969 which lcd *rc statc to imptcmcntcd rnany aational .policics which. favour rhc Y -----formulatc thc Ncrv Eaonomic poricy (NEp) in t97o. Thc il"tpu* 'ir"r.ni ob!:ctivcs of this.policy rf,.crc. lo cradicarc and to ii*Uoproioctingrhccconomielntcri*oftlcBumipurra, rwruducsocictysoasoelimindcthcidatifrcationofethnic rhc sraicdso'**rn""il*irx yahy+ascacilturc groupswi0rconomicfurrcrioos$dalaysia' l97t).Animpor- and klanrity bt;"tdrs MJ;*rc"tt" n*ional and solc ofriciat
implcrncntationofthcgovcrnnrcnt'sluiguagc&rdcaucitionat

is the disadvent4od virnacular-cducarod (Cticry, In ficcontcxt of Malaysia class conllia is usually 0,.'sp"ci"rpririlcgcs;IJru-gumip.t.ooflryrinf,ngmainly shndoucd b'y cdinic sonflict btrt this docs not mean rtrai it or o" crrinisc anitnaiars rrtro havc no .qecial privilcgcs*. not cxist By thc rimc of ihdepcndcncc, thc occuparionat ro gain

havc assimitationis quitc unlikcty ro hap-pan becausc ir is cssential other tomakcrhedisrirrciion-bctwen's;ipd;;;;;u,* rcdistribrnivc. Thc firstgoal has bccn dirccrcd ro rhe inregrari*. **r";;;;l"g"t;i,"ri";-; b"i"j,a"riii,la * ivcfunction'rhatis.toachic*caMalay'bascdcultural idcnliry . Bumipurra- If rqlrnany pcople acguirc Burniputra srarus, ir for thc
two kqi l-aogl3eclSgFli*onc 'inrcgrativc and the
educatiorial policics'as thc piincipal vchicle for giving
nation' The second goSl.has bcen to use tanguage.and advantagetothcMalays inrhcireffonsto rcach ttre educarionat sia is rhardespi,. rr," orf;"Lirt.Lri"or*," uscofone language and economic levels of the non-Malays- Ncedless to say. to establish a national identity amonB all its inhabitants, irnpkmemation of the NEP has created. subsrantial frusirarion regardiess of erhnic affiliarion. iro*r or rn" acrual govcmment *tld rcscntment amongst the non'trlalays who feel that poiicics clo crrry the distinclion.berrveen Bumiputra and non'Bumiputra. havc bccn deprivcd

the cdycatioa and ceonomic sptxfuer The Malay ctircs

an

' wouti'bc-very iirnculi.ior ih" ,,"r" to provide prcfercntial ,r.urr.nrtotllprivitcgirlgroup.'llecontradicrioninMalay-

the

tpportunities because of the racial quota systcm rhat canrc being in line with rhe

of highcr cducarion and employment

they into

p*- ::';::fi:ii;Jjf #'!f;;il:Tl,:':i:ffi:i[:'i:1: p*:*ed the cstlblislrnrent ol the lvterdeka univelsiiy in ihe "rncans
ro
counreracr rrre srurc'i acrion. rhc

NEp.

,*- t--].,i*-ll.

Langua_ee

chi'ese.iir"

^:;':^;:,:^f:a: "':''::
a

policics atso ptay

cruciat role in nrainrainine ruic ,.r'rrrrtari '

'1r

ro thcilit:rrc

""nn.rrii.

clrange, to synrbolically nra-

qir

6
Conclusion

"

Asian langnagcs *tyi'erddifr" langrragcs only) I

in the economicsphcrc bctwcen forcigncommerciafinrcrcsts

'

ff;

il:[,ffiff,H*',"##:m*ffiS******;::,tt':,*:r*,*11r,"ii,corcrass Pv'' tmjsvr' r.,rcrgr-ownso comPantcs' conflictwhcrcpoliricalporicriscontcsrcd@trlaneas,

rt'

r.JJ

,tt" starc whic]i ler"qil parr.and rcsult of potitiad

poricv camc auour'- nenarcv

servcsasamcansofconr

*:ffi,;*ffi#.fffin
(t

"ha-sPcak}fandadncampaip-starredinli?lwbereby
e83)

inslcad.gr

c,i,e chincse,* rcasons..To hfft*tr. campalgn is a -ariire"Luon politicalwilladffihclcadingc.lturqlidcntityof

;jHffihH*il#i:! fi"'r{lp*::1ilfi8_ffi;ffiffifrI rtrc.

;rr*_, ---:-'

p",r'J

;"l"#fiH

- IHm ff ::Xt*-m"Xgffi

19261, r ono'or nc laeaogficrl satc appiuanrscs ,"rffiuro-ro-r o;ip,.a,ii* ormoaes ana rc[riom or

;:tlo

remJi

ij-5:g}.iffrynglThus,

*:Tfffi*ffiUg*f#i#*Ti:;:
ei,is" p"i"y
maiqrity of rhe'Malays lctrai, tgzt;.

i","ro narives and Kadazans are sabah nativcs. rhe , S;;il;;ilil.il;ConstirutionascircdinTan .lir" (lgzs). r*e"ii iarior,rt runi*{*.yo985)and.TancB..(.r9f8)foramoredcn,ed guage' Tqrhc Mahv\-F'nglish ' "i 'hr iI*pro' of the prog;essivc irnprerncntarion of "'i* tot*gt'uJ t'i"G
rhe

tgso)' In the ca;oit1;rhI; Malays gJ3 d'rearened by rhe minoriryi.rp" u"";use minoritidShavc .beuer cconornic posirioni * ih" t"t"t"y f|ave it[p[qmcntcd x*h e]l

' triesshol,gtharrtrcsgpolieila^iffcr.."o.ahg;rlrrrfuii.i thi, is based on the t97o ccnsus .but the proporrions ,-_*g ne races tave-ioi.chdnged much. Dayaks bv thc rulihgctic (watsdn' arc

,unguagf;Iroticies m increase is own legitirnaclrand to forward Notes ;ts ecoifiiiric and potiricat goals. Thc'Tcvclo9ntcntof lanluage policies in ihese two coun-

noglt6.. idcndficFtim on orhcr crircria such as sociil class, thc si.t"p.r" srarc uses

Ii:adcrship' anlfh o'indaooriqet"a ioi#g*rp. wthin ,r," rl*ri y er"il:r;i;:il]ii*p'** ro.no* tha group rhe'odcni *Effiii'h" aria abic tolxe,t innucni" on'official c-ni"'r"."r"norconfinedoonlyinrcr-cthnicconflictsbutarso policy'ManduinisscanasavchiclcofcuhuratidenrirrcJon ilrd" inrra-ctlrnic *ay occrr in various amoing OreOrincsccturishicrachy,aform"fiO.r,l y-*frili "*rni"t"-Lrri"h

oi i""o"aorin-tsrrr;;"J;;*r.dby.o&cr.cdrnicgroups,, bothrhcpAp andorrhcJcril;;;;ilpotirlearandetrnomhpower:

na.

conToachie,e wang.trgs3),Takeieril. (r923),Mehmer (r9g6). economic progreis and orosperityn rtre siate na1firomsred ltre . t rsr6) ona -ro,no l-fr-;;;;r* derairgd anarysis Milne use of English rvhich ii o tongurg. ,,r.*o.in'lJ luirh n od"r, of the N.*e"_o.ic policy technolo-gicat. ."a irsi;;-";ir""i rr"*,.dge und , ,n; dorninnnr icteotogy in [,talaysia. ilf,::',t" refcrred ro here is quiie differenr ' , " l'mrD lhe national icleology which is enstrrinecl in rhc
cerned

lnsrlao'lrf,lri rr", been a otlurt unJ"o,r*ir'o, potirrui power lo a t'ocus o,, econotit ,J;;;anagemeni (copinathan' l99l)' The

accommodate lansuase dii,eniry. deliberate shiri frJm itiricat

#i$"ffigffi
sroups- This

,'g".ru;frXg,,tm:3ffi#:::":l;";*:; i :ii,**
ir
Gflecred.in iheir tangusge

**I-; ;,# ;'ii;[lT;J[;:,y.$1.

ltr*: th" ;;,ionat tan- r

ii,

!,$"tr*r,*poricvinthdedueatioirsysteininMaray'sar
ioar,.-:^r, ,r^oo, .^- - i . .. . :fr]IJffiT,1ji? Jffi f#,ffi:1g
or,hc deve,-

'

lsrsrr

as a nrsttang.uage. and

c,.r

means

p",c*"rii.;

ir\ru:f, ,r;; -+tyn,3

*ithecononri"oYr::,:ur,,1rt,':-""r",

bureaucratii et;te arc more

;-;;;;,asi&s.80%.of governmenr sctrotantrips foq :hc Bumiputra,,.lilwcrctl admission re11, pori-;a;lary rever of.schooring. and special sclools and programmqs ro prep&re Bumiputra siudenrs for'rhe profeSsionar antr rechnicat riclds. see

*n*il*t#$#-ic*-i'li

I
:'-,.|.,..

'...;;. ,
+: ti

howcYer, availablc in Matan.Chinesc,-and"dnitrnedipeg ? TodaiEngtishisdntytaughrai;#;alilA;ageinschools. _.-".8{rg$*-t"hbs,irfihlgzg,;d.ggg6;fr -Tht"io,urnur*r*,lu*;,ilnaru;-;J; ,.i Malaysia is'a socicty :li cr{yrc' ard to sorrtc divided by ract, tan-Sale, Eligid;h, schods in tfO ana'ftanit pdnary sctroo& ir cxlcnt, by occupatioird ad illional thercwcrconty'fotriimalysndlro&k** i,l. i.i git*f:-. or-:h -f"tgl-:Br-1ggg-ngg$&ite.-gE!Lc.--....tyv.0 'finr--IanguaBB,',h.i is, Enslish aad-, . groups, Ianguage, as ilrc conveyor of crrlturc, has bccn one of lWz). f, i'if thl lost :{i-cnt fcatures of ethnic conflicr. Aceording ro lVang From rhe abovc$nalysis, wc can-compc*

(1970; 1986), ttrcrc arc rlncc. groups of conrcnding ctirc

..ii: {S 9g".^ clitc formcd an alliane with rhc English'cdt6dMalayb^ulthisallianccbegantocollapsawbcnthc'

g.'i1:ry5,1.:115 ia*d;*-d$rii;ii,itiuril"6_andilre bcgan'to cling onr{iiticir own lflrguagc so r ar F-.:. ::r E$slisFcdtrcarcdrhicontrolof gwcrnnrcnf (Wang,l97Qp. *hatcvcr cttnrral *iiraga urcy ffii tayc. r ir 1l- I : .*:t. lY:.E thc first en ycan of mqcPcnoencs, tllc Englislr- MalalB&LlrutwDcnqugstalcismoilolcrantFm!&qqaxnt .a.?i. z++ During lrrE rrnttrEinycaE9I indepcHlenqg, uletngffin- Malalsia- Bur wt"n iS sitc i5 ,i,oi3[r"rr";ffi

lvralaysia, namctyr Malaysia, napcty,

Htf:*:y_**:1li** had the Yd:.ry

in ity g6ups n to thc languagc poei.E * thi Milay dlla, &i ChinCsc c[rc and rhe counrri,x. ]l Chincsc c[tc and_the countrix. Wlryt dt'&minority glrG feh i*.t*

rurrlrbcrs, thc Chincsc the wealth

t:-ii

-.-, '.

'.', l!{ar*Er,gllscdtlar&csatrsquortrcobcrrclidthcnon. ,Ql$qr-,tt Malays (Wang, 1986). Right from rhs start, thcrc.wcrc Malayc who wclt not satisfipd rrirh the stow ttc$ . Y1"r:
and gradual implcmcrurion of tbcrnational ldtguagc pollcy. : .' trc Engislr-educatcd Malay c[fe, howcvcqnaa rJtc trnaUy ' " nationalists first bcforc they could consotidatc their national i- lcadcrship Soa&cr ttc tr{ay 13 inci&nq rhc nrlingctitcs camc

as j$lingf;1brc, minoriry goups t;rpaqalt -r*i intcgratc rhcailir"C.ll"ro rrc woutd cfioosc-lo aoi"ir" ifrc aonriiiant fi.rguqsg.#*q,:* flucrrcy in dnt langqge is.ctosbly tlcd 6 rut

divcrsity,

ra*is"* "i&S&,ffi .n qn;rJii

. i." Languagc and dosditruggle

rhc grouplgghflicr in MatEysia rends ro bc sq cthnic groups, rhe c6iiflict in Singapore is morc of e =*'qr

rflhils

-';.*t!tp-:wi!!.3.1rl^tior!fl cducarionalpolicytharfayourcd..Malay-

rnedium instnrction at the expcnse of English.

:.:::1 11q change

Cr.rid

in thc potidll ctimarc

ii rr,i rgzo, heighrof

feclings of cthnic loyahy and shagpencd thc awarcness

cultural identity. One manifcstarion of rhis awircndrs has becn ,tk *trurp incrcase in cnrolmenr in Chinese primary schools since lIlO (Ian L.E", 1988). The Chincsctvtalaysians, cspe-cijl.lythc Chinese-educated ones, vicw the govcrnmcnt poticy ,..39 i threat to thcir ethnic culnrrc becausc they sec Chinese bducation as a way of transmiuing aod preserving thcir Chinese identiry and cuhurc (Ian C:B:, lggg). As obscrved by Watson {1980), rhe use 9 f a naiional language as a medium of
has rcguhcd in communal tcnsions and, -Iesome extentr-gven resentmenl from the minority groups. people's Rcrion iarry , _ Jn thc casi-of Singaporc, rvhen the :{PlP) came iilb po*er in t959, Matay was declared rhe .iriiiionat langqllc and English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil w.ere all declarcd officiat languagcs. Malay became rhc nal:iibnat tanguage in anricipation ofih. *er*e"', *;,t ,t. Federa:: ;!ign of Malaya to form lvia taysia in I 96-2. B u : when Si n-eapore ' 'leparated frorir Malaysia in t965.lvlulay remained the nationat

stnrgglc within.thc dominant Chinese group. Righ fFo@ tu colonial period; the cbm$etiiioh has bccn betwcen dle F,gti'ficducarod and Chincsc.edudated ctitas. Post-war sdur*ri.rf,s* devilopment in Singaporc was characteriscd by the polili**ucd naturc ofChinesc education . Tlrc carecrpmspccts for srdcosr of Chincsc schools wcre quite.disrnal bccausc not srlf W iuncmplo)nncnthigh irr thc privatc;siitdiburjdbs in itle p@e, sector rcquircd a command of'English *hictr thcy did ffi posscss. ln ordcrtohavea control of thcscChincsc sctrootr &u

British lovcmmcnl offcrcd them rhe.samc grant-in-aid

as tbc

*ip:truction in Malaysia

govcmrnent-aided English schoots. As rhc post-colo*i+l ' era approached, thc Chinesq-cducated communiqr pcrceived a ,. threat ro Chincse caucation which.led'thern rolsrablisa eha
establishmenr of Nanylng U4iversity was an atrcmpt to elcvare the slatus of Clrinese iducation and Mandarirr as the medium iif instruciign (Newman,. I 986). Hourtfta rhe successful Eirg-

*em

NlnfanS Universiry tp 1956 rlirotigh privari iniriarive.

T**c.

lish-educared elire in power reaffiniftd rheir commirmcnr in

maki ng Singapore an Engli'sh tanguage statt. ln I 9i5, Nanyanr

'

. '

l4guage alrhough only symbolicnlly., Since ihcn. English. bejng a "neutral" language in rhc sense that ir cannor be

University sry:c!::rbcC re the prcssrrr:s erai.eC agti:..:: ir-.^4

adopted English as rhe nredium of instrucrion, unrit t 990. rvben

the

All-Pany Committee Repon. equal rreatnreni*erc giu.n ro ull

attributed ro any parricutar erhnic group. has become rhe chief y-o-tlioe tanguage (d. Souza, l9g0). As ,a legacy of rhe t 956

fourofficldl

allorved to choose the rype of school

languages in the school system nnd purcnrs ur.e

thel wanr lbr

rheir

Nanyang Univeniry was absorbed inri rlrc Uhi..,eisiry oI Singapore rrs parr of $p Narional Univenity of Singaporc (Bonhu,ick. 1988). Sinc.e then. rhe srare has been succcssl'ul in sociully en_eineerin-9 Slpgapore inro an English-speaking sociery rhrough irs bilingu'ul poticy. In Sincaporc. English is pronrorecl as rhe lart-tulge ol'