CHINESE MATHEMATICS


1. The Chinese understand numbers. Very early they invented the computer – not the electronic one – but the abacus.

2. The abacus in the hands of experts can outrun the electronic calculator.

3. The ability to calculate fast contributes much to the skills in business. The brain deduces problems much faster.

4. When I was Prime Minister a Chinese expert demonstrated to me how pre-school children could be taught to mentally multiply or divide big figures almost instantaneously. They know how to use the abacus for quick calculations. When asked to add, subtract, multiply or divide, they mentally move the beads of the computer in their minds. That way they were able to almost immediately give the answers.

5. The professor told me that the children were ordinary children, It was his system of mental calculation which enabled them to perform.

6. I asked the Ministry of Education to use Prof Xu Si Zhong’s method for our primary schools. I don’t really know the results.

7. The Professor came to see me recently to introduce improvements he had made to his method. I must say that his new method is even better.

8. Since I am now no longer in the Government I cannot persuade the Ministry of Education to adopt his system. It strikes me that if someone were to invest a small sum of money to put up a classroom for pre-school children to be taught mathematics using this method, there might be parents interested to send their children for a few hours a week to learn. I think the children will enjoy learning mathematics and the use of the abacus.

9. I will be happy to put interested private kindergartens and primary schools in contact with Prof Xu Si Zhong.

134 thoughts on “CHINESE MATHEMATICS”

  1. Hi Tun Mahathir,

    Regarding your blog about abacus and mental arithmetic by Professor Xu
    Si Zhong, our team, Bengkel Niaga Ala-Cina (BENA) have given
    opportunity to conduct the training of Abacus Mental Arithmetic by
    Prof Xu’s method.

    Kindly log on to this website for futher details :
    bena-ama.blogspot.com

    Thanks and have a nice day!

  2. Dear Tun,
    I personally am of chinese descent and i believe that their are some facts that you have stated that I, with all due respect, believe are wrong.
    I have gone for similar courses to one stated above, and the only advantage i had was that I was familiar in the 4 primary mathematics functions, plus, minus, division and multiplication. As I grew older, these functions started playing smaller and smaller roles in my mathematics education, especially when i opted for pre-u in Australia last year. I then realized, that the training that I had received as a child was nothing more than teaching a monkey how to do simple tricks, and that anyone could do it, but at the cost of his childhood, creativity and ability to think on his feet.
    I do not believe that forcing children into learning mathematics is as important as teaching them to understand the mathematics principals are, but understanding can only come at a much later stage, way beyond the kindergarten-level entry which you proposed in your address. So rather than going with some unproven theory, why can’t we stick with what we know, and improve on it.
    yours sincerely,
    Reuben

  3. Dear Tun,
    Mental maths or calculation is not in line with modern maths in school, in a way it can decrease the ability on modern maths.
    In modern maths you have to show the workings and you would not get full marks for a right answer. What important for modern maths is your understanding of the concept and not your speed of getting the right answer. mental calculation will only be good for addition, subtraction, division and multiply, it can’t do more than that
    what people impress is on the speed. mental speed is not an indication of brilliance, it is the understanding that counts
    For me, you do not have to learn mental arithmetic as it did not help much, it is more on memorising than understanding

  4. By abu sayab on January 4, 2010 3:17 AM
    The standard of education has dropped dramatically since the early eighties.I just wish to make a few comparisons between the present and during the 70’s/80’s
    1)Today many of the teachers in Sek. Kebangsaan do not have the motivation or passion in teaching and they treat teaching is just like any other job.(Some are very busy with their laptop or handphone instead of teaching… There many of them! Just walk into any school you sure can find one if not more)
    2)English teacher speaking to students in Malay during English class.
    3)Teacher doing part-time direct-selling or tuition.
    4)There are so many errors in exam papers and school work book.
    5)Lesser homework.
    6)Racial remarks.
    7)Sports and ex-curriculum are not being taken seriously.Many schools don’t even enough sports facilities
    8)Many Headmasters or Headmistress are promoted because they have connection with certain politician.The capable and hardwoking ones are left behind.
    9)etc..etc… and the list goes on…
    These are the few reasons why tuition centers are booming everywhere.During the seventies only very slow student needs tuition but today every student goes for it eating away their time and putting stress on them and parents
    What has went wrong and how did it goes?
    The whole education system needs an immediate revamp before its too late.Perhaps we need to start from the top, appoint a qualified Educationist to be our Education Minister and not a politician.
    I’m both agreed and disagreed.
    Can’t explain all but try being a teacher for a month or two. A year even better.
    Works given to teachers such as data gathering and processing also must be diverted to another post. Data clerks maybe?.. This is so that the teachers can focus more on TEACHING(preparing the lessons stuff such as ABM, tools, plans, etc..) rather than doing those clerk works. (This is refering to number 1,4,5)
    And a little bit about discipline problems we have these days. To discipline a child, it is not PRIMARYLY the teacher’s work, but the parents. Why? Because it is the parents child not the teachers child. And in Islam there’s a hadith saying “IBU BAPA yang menentukan samada anak itu menjadi yahudi,nasrani, atau muslim.” which means YOUR CHILDREN IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. The teachers are only there to HELP the parents. I dont know for other religion, but i think its the same. So lets us accept the responsibility of being a parent and not to burden the teachers with unnecessary responsibility. Prepare the children from your home to come to scholl to learn. Send them to school and leave it all to the teachers.
    Remember OUR CHILDREN IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY. Thats include the behaviour, health, etc.
    Well about motivation and passion. It is still there, but most of them are already diverted from the main core business, which are teaching.

  5. I reiterate a point made before on this subject with respect to rote learning and the use of facilitators to produce fast results in mathematics.
    Mathematics is a language which uses digits instead of letters alone. It is also based on logic (a branch of mathematics)and has reasoning as its base.
    The use of the abacus mistakenly referred to as the earliest computer (as opposed to the earliest calculator) produces fast results and not fast answers to mathematical problems. And mathematical problems are often mistaken to be problems with calculations alone which it is not.
    Fast calculations is but one part of the process of understanding and interpreting maths and its outcomes. Logic and wider reasoning is more important of any of the process.
    An outcome can be wrong, but if the process is adhered to, an examiner is convinced of the students understanding and competence in knowledge of the subject matter. Thats what matters and thats the logic applied at the best tertiary institutions worldwide.
    Malays (Muslims)like the Jews and some other religions have an upbringing that requires them to memorise the texts of their scriptures. That of itself is an exercise in opening up the brain and its faculties to an aspect many fail to put to productive use later in life. It assists a child in being able to memorise anything at all because the brain becomes conditioned to it at a very early age.
    The reason Malays and some Indians fared poorly at Mathematics at schools in the pre 1970’s period was due to the fact that many a maths teacher in schools came from Chinese schools.
    And their command of the English language, the medium for teaching in those days, was shocking apart from their accents which provided a great distraction from learning. There was also a healthy dose of chauvanism as well which did not help. And good teachers were few. The many Kerelites imported from India to work at schools were quickly and smartly taken up by the Chinese medium schools first.
    I studied Maths at the London School of Economics having being tutored privately by a colleague who happened to be Malay and who had originally studied at a Malay vernacular school in Northern Malaya.
    If a new method of teaching Maths is to be introduced to schools, it ought to be part of a wider broader and more wholistic curriculum to encourage a wider and deeper study of subjects in general.
    Maths is a very interesting subject and no computer can replace or substitute a good teacher with equally good methods.
    Gopal Raj Kumar

  6. Salam Ayahanda Tun,
    Happy New Year! I do agree with Tun on learning Mathematics using Abacus. When I graduated back in 1998, and came back to Msia, I still remember that I joined my cousin’s Maths tuition class, who was then only 10 years old, purposely to learn how to use Abacus. I think it is a great tool to let our mind “work” on the problem solving and certainly a great way to sharpen our minds as I believe Abacus could “train the brain”. As a mother of three kids now, I would certainly give my 100% support to introduction of learning Maths using Abacus in schools.
    Tun, shall there be any seminar by Prof Xu on his improved Abacus method, I would like to participate in it. Thank you.

  7. Salam Tun dan warga forum,
    Saya merujuk kepada comment yang terdahulu mengenai URL Pusat “myTuition” dimana website kami http://www.myTuition.com.my didalam process mengemaskini. Insyallah, ianya akan boleh dilayari dalam tempoh terdekat.
    Mohon maaf. Wassalam.

  8. Dear Tun
    >Ur opinion about chinese abacus mathematical system is appreciated and i think we can implement it in our primary schools thru teachers training and teach the teachers to show this methods to childrens.I think it will be good for our childrens .I think we can implement and suggest it to government thru polls system and can make some arrangements to introduce it to our schools for our young generations future by research and so on.

  9. Salam Tun,
    Pembelajaran Matematik menggunakan Abacus telah kami jalankan melalui program myTuition iaitu satu percuma tuisyen percuma untuk kanak-kanal dari keluarga berpendapatan rendah di kawasan Kampung Kerinchi, Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur. Kami dapati program ini amat berkesan sekali dan meningkatkan minat kanak-kanak dalam bidang matematik.
    Program ini dapat dijalankan atas sokongan dan dorongan yang kuat dari YB Senator Dato’ Raja Nong Chik selaku ketua bahagian UMNO Lembah Pantai merangkap Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan.
    Kami menyarankan sesiapa yang berminat untuk mengetahui lebih lanjut lagi, sila hubungi kami di Pusat myTuition Taman Angkasa, Pantai Dalam, 59200 Kuala Lumpur, Tal: 03-22888988 atau layari kami di URL berikut –
    http://www.mytuition.com.my
    Anyway, YBhg Tun we would like to be connected to Prof Xu Si Zhong to enable us to continously improve our program. We also like to invite Tun to visit our Centre at the above address, supaya kanak-kanak dari keluarga berpendapatan rendah lebih bersemangat untuk belajar especially Maths and Science.
    Kami doakan Tun dan keluarga sentiasa sihat sejahtera.
    Wassalam.

  10. YABhg Tun,
    When it comes to food, we Malays seems to have this exceptional talent of turning other races’ foods as our very own. Roti Canai, Chicken Rice( Nasi Ayam )…are, but, just a few example.
    But, when it comes to education……hmmm!! Take the PPSMI as an example and you know what I mean…

  11. Salam Tun & Fellows CheDet bloggers,
    We can argue about the best system available to be learnt but as long as they are people in power around with mindset to hold fort to protect bahasa as the only medium of education, our education system will not provide the better knowledge for our future generation. The question of Bahasa & English is already in stalemate. Yet our education system seem to keep on changing, depending on the Minister. We should know the long term effect when government decide to drop jawi in school. We should know the long term effect when we do not continue using English in school. We already knew the effect to current generation when Mandarin or Tamil were not taught in national schools ( national unity factor still not resovled). Why can’t the government liberise the education system to include the teaching of even other languages such as Arabic, Japanese, French or German as elective subjects in national schools? In Europe, the students are expected to learn at least 2 other language from their own as elective subjects. As the result, people of different countries can travel trought Europe with having language problem …. benefit? European Union was created, to make dream come true.
    Sad to say, we in Malaysia after more than 50 years of independence, is still struggling for creation of national unity. Everybody including the expert have been talking but mere rhetoric of no substance except to secure political popular support. The failure is purely because of EGO for not wanting to make significant sacrifices for the future generation to live in harmony, deserve to call TRUE MALAYSIAN. I cannot see how and when this can be achieved with the ongoing and unending “battle” to protect their respective fort.
    May Allah bless us and show us the true path.

  12. during the exam in primary school, student is not allowed to bring the calculator in the class room. Perhaps in future they should be persuaded to allow calculator too.

  13. OK so here’s Why Chinese Are Better At Math…
    First take 10 seconds to look these numbers:
    3 1 4 1 5 9 2 6 5 3
    Given majority of us memorize numbers in vocal (rather than visual for photo-memory gifted ones) and human mind stores digits in memory that last 2 seconds, a native English speaker would program his mind probably three times longer than a Chinese would (read above number out load and fast in both language you will know who takes longer).
    Further to this, the numbers 1-10 in Mandarin can be associated to other meaning like 8 can sounds like ‘dad’, 3 can sound like ‘mountain’, 9 sounds like ‘beer’. So to remember 893, just recall the sequence ‘father drink beer on top of mountain’. Don’t laugh, it works and are taught in advance learning skill for kids. So for the Chinese, the low level of verbal memory could easily be escalated to photographic memory like remembering the pictorial sequences illustrated above.
    Btw its a Pi number above, challenge your Chinese and English (or Malay) friends and see who’s the winner, you will get the idea.

  14. Tun, if i may say. You are threading on dangerous ground in today’s shifting sands.
    Using chinese methods in anything can/might influence/convert/turn malays into chinese! *shock*
    Pelik tapi benar!

  15. Salam Tun,
    I think its a pity that many people still fail to the gist of the message ie
    a) Here is a tool helps to sharpen the brain for other use (rather then take the easy way out and use the calculator)
    b) U can solve problem in various ways if u have a good system (I suppose thats what tution does to some of us)
    c) Why not use the blog to connect people who wants to start up this enterprise (since no one in Government is willing to pick this up)

  16. GURU OH GURU !!!!!!!
    Assalamualaikum Tun,
    Selamat tahun baru,semoga dalam keadaan sihat walafiat selalu hendaknya.
    Tajuk ini amatlah menarik perhatian saya,hari ini sesi persekolahan 2010 bermula,ramailah ibubapa yang pagi-pagi lagi sudah bersiap-siap untuk menghantar anak mereka kesekolah terutama sekali yang mula menduduki darjah 1.
    Pendidikan anak-anak adalah penting bagi menjamin kehidupan yang lebih baik untuk masa depan dunia dan akhirat ,dan banyak lagilah kebaikan didalamnya jika diamati dan diaplikasikan kerana ilmu itu tiada batasannya.Maka adalah guru yang mengajar dan pelajar yang belajar.Dua insan ini saling memberi dan menerima,apa yang dipelajari di sekolah juga memberi kesan kepada anak-anak seumur hidup mereka samada yang baik mahupun yang kurang baik.
    Guru/cikgu adalah pekerjaan yang dipandang mulia,hormatilah guru kerana guru mendidik kita menjadi insan berguna,tetapi tidak semua guru begitu.Ada guru yang menganggap profesion guru adalah satu pekerjaan semata-mata,ditambah lagi dengan kemudahan yang banyak,gaji yang besar,elaun besar dan bermacam-macam elaun lagi,cuti pun banyak jadi ramailah lagi yang diluar sana yang inginkan jawatan guru ini.Kuantiti bukan lah penting sangat tetapi kualiti guru yang betul-betul ingin mendidik anak bangsa ini sudah semakin berkurangan.
    Sedikit cerita zaman saya di bangku sekolah,kerenah guru kadang-kadang lebih dari anak murid,masuk kelas mengajar lebih kurang sahaja,”buka muka surat 57 semua,azman awak baca yang lain semak”,awak mari sini tolong picit kepala cikgu”,darjah 1.
    PJK (pendidikan jasmani),”kamu ambil bola dalam stor sukan,main jelah bola hari ni,minggu depan takda PJK ye,duduk dalam kelas je Ok!!”,cikgu PJK baju riadah/baju sukan pun tak bawa.”urmm,cikgu ni kalau kita tak bawak baju PJK nahas kita kene dengan dia,kalau dia sendiri tak bawak takapa”rungut si anak murid kepada rakan-rakannya.
    Di makmal sains,tabung uji berhabuk,penunu bunsen dah lama expired,mikroskop nampak macam barang antik dalam almari macam dekat muzium,sama juga dengan bengkel Kemahiran Hidup,kemas tersusun tukul-tukul dengan gergaji digantung didinding,takut nak pakai,dimomok-momokkan kalau siapa pakai rosak kena ganti.
    Ada cikgu yang kalau marah macam kena sawan babi,merotan tanpa bicara apa kesalahan,kadang-kadang perkara kecil pun dah naik angin macam nak pecah satu kelas,marah tu boleh tapi biarlah berhikmah,ada acaranya nak bagi pengajaran,tahu takut anak murid pijak kepala,kalau cikgu tegur atau nasihat dengan betul, pelajar yang bermasalah sekalipun sayang kat cikgu tu.
    Ini satu lagi..3-4 tahun lepas semasa cuti semester saya bekerja sebagai tukang kebun sekolah(sekolah rendah) sementara di satu sekolah ni,antara tugas-tugas tukang kebun,kena cuci tandas pelajar,sapu sampah di koridor depan kelas dan menyiram bunga.Di pendekkan cerita adalah satu hari tu semasa saya sedang menyapu sampah di tepi sebuah kelas,saya terdengar pekikkan suara cikgu yang kuat mengeluarkan kata-kata yang tak sepatutnya guru keluarkan kepada anak murid dan memarahi budak-budak dalam kelas tersebut,ada yang berdiri atas kerusi ada yang kene baling dengan buku,ada yang kena tempeling,dalam hati saya rasa nak belasah je balik cikgu tu,dah la dia selambe tanpa rasa segan silu walaupun saya ada di tepi kelas tersebut tetap juga dia dengan marahnya itu.Mungkin dia ingat saya ni hanya tukang kebun yang tidak berpelajaran,memang saya sakit hati dengan cikgu tersebut,sampai hari ini sebab dia melampau sangat dengan budak-budak tu,saya ingat dalam darjah 2 atau pun 3 macam tulah.
    Ini sepatutnya tidak berlaku kerana guru seharusnya memberikan yang terbaik untuk dicontohi oleh anak-anak bangsa.Bagilah macam mana sekalipun modul untuk murid-murid belajar tapi sekiranya guru tak membantu pun tak guna.contoh cikgu sendiri lemah dalam bahasa inggeris nak mengajar matematik atau sains dalam bahasa inggeris,sebab itu ada antara mereka yang menolak,apa yang penting adalah penyampaian kepada murid-murid dan penerimaan yang baik dari murid adalah lebih baik.
    Memang betul juga kata penghantar komen yang lain,ada jugak set abacus@sempua ni belambak kat sekolah tapi cikgu pun tak tau nak gunakan macam mana nak tunjukkan pada anak murid.urmmmm….yang kesiannya anak murid nak belajar tapi cikgu-cikgu yang malas nak mengajar bila murid kurang ajar,murid juga disalahkan.
    Kepada guru-guru tolonglah anak bangsa kita dalam memberikan pelajaran supaya guru-guru tidak dipersalahkan kelak.Dah banyak sangat kemudahan yang kerajaan berikan kepada guru-guru,tapi masih juga ada yang semacam ini,kebanyakannya guru-guru yang mengajar di kampong, terutama guru-guru duduk mengajar di kampung sendiri,dah naik lemak,mengajar lebih kurang,takda fokus kepada anak murid,aktiviti sekolah pun kurang,balik mengajar pegi kebun,pegi ke laut nak tambah pendapatan,tak salah pun,tapi tugas yang sepatutnya dibuat diabai.Kalau lantikan AJK kampong nama-nama cikgu kampong nil ah yang naik alasannya mereka ini ada pendidikan,AJK surau pun macam tu,sebenarnya ramai lagi yang berpotensi tapi dah macam dia je yang bagus,Anak-anak murid pun dapat yang lebih kurang je hasil cikgu yang lebih kurang mengajar ni,pandanglah muka anak-anak kampong ini sedalam-dalamnya,diberikanlah ilmu yang berguna dan bermanfaat kerana inilah anak bangsa kita,orang kampong kita,kita kenal emak bapak mereka,saudara mereka,saudara kita,majukanlah yang mundur,kalau guru tak dapat nak bantu dengan wang ringgit,bantulah dengan memberikan ilmu yang sepatutnya.
    Apa-apa pun guru yang baik adalah guru yang melahirkan anak bangsa yang berkualiti dalam segala pencapaian.
    Tq Tun,tajuk ini dalam maksudnya,hanya yang faham memahaminya,kepada guru-guru mahupun bakal guru kalau nak mengajar setakat melepas batuk ditangga baik tak payah,belajar lagi apa maksud guru sebenarnya.
    Wassalam.

  17. Salam Tun,
    Appreciate if Tun could provide Prof’s contact details.
    Btw, have Tun heard of MOKHDAR’s method for mathematics?
    Take care & Thank you.

  18. Assalamualaikum Tun,
    Selamat tahun baru,semoga dalam keadaan sihat walafiat selalu hendaknya.
    Tajuk ini tidak kurang menarik perhatian saya,hari ini sesi persekolahan 2010 bermula,ramailah ibubapa yang pagi-pagi lagi sudah bersiap-siap untuk menghantar anak mereka kesekolah terutama sekali yang mula menduduki darjah 1.
    Pendidikan anak-anak adalah penting bagi menjamin kehidupan yang lebih baik,dan banyak lagilah kebaikan didalamnya.Maka adalah guru yang mengajar dan pelajar yang belajar.Dua insan ini saling memberi dan menerima,apa yang dipelajari di sekolah memberi kesan kepada anak-anak seumur hidup mereka samada yang baik mahupun yang kurang baik.
    Guru/cikgu adalah pekerjaan yang dipandang mulia,hormatilah guru kerana guru mendidik kita menjadi insan berguna,tetapi tidak semua guru begitu.Ada guru yang menganggap profesion guru adalah satu pekerjaan semata-mata,ditambah lagi dengan kemudahan yang banyak,gaji yang besar,elaun besar dan bermacam-macam elaun lagi,cuti pun banyak jadi ramailah lagi yang diluar sana inginkan jawatan guru ini.Kuantiti bukan lah penting sangat tetapi kualiti guru yang betul-betul ingin mendidik anak bangsa ini sudah semakin berkurangan.
    Sedikit cerita zaman saya di bangku sekolah,kerenah guru kadang-kadang lebih dari anak murid masuk kelas mengajar lebih kurang sahaja,”buka muka surat 57 semua,azman awak baca yang lain semak”,awak mari sini tolong picit kepala cikgu”,darjah 1.
    PJK (pendidikan jasmani),”kamu ambil bola dalam stor sukan,main jelah bola hari ni,minggu depan takda PJK ye,duduk dalam kelas je Ok”,cikgu PJK baju riadah/baju sukan pun tak bawa.”urmm,cikgu ni kalau kita tak bawak baju PJK nahas kita kene dengan dia,kalau dia sendiri tak bawak takapa”rungut si anak murid kepada rakan-rakannya.
    Di makmal sains,tabung uji berhabuk,penunu bunsen dah lama expired,mikroskop nampak macam barang antik dalam almari macam dekat muzium,sama juga dengan bengkel Kemahiran Hidup,kemas tersusun tukul-tukul dengan gergaji digantung didinding,takut nak pakai,dimomok-momok rosak kena ganti.
    Ada cikgu yang kalau marah macam kena sawan babi,merotan tanpa bicara apa kesalahan,kadang-kadang perkara kecil pun dah naik angin macam nak pecah satu kelas,marah tu boleh tapi biarlah berhikmah,ada acaranya nak bagi pengajaran,tahu takut anak murid pijak kepala,kalau cikgu betul pelajar yang bermasalah pun sayang kat cikgu tu.
    Ni satu lagi..3-4 tahun lepas semasa cuti semester saya bekerja sebagai tukang kebun sekolah(sekolah rendah) sementara di satu sekolah ni,antara tugas-tugas tukang kebun,kena cuci tandas pelajar,sapu sampah di koridor depan kelas dan menyiram bunga.Di pendekkan cerita adalah satu hari tu semasa saya sedang menyapu sampah di tepi sebuah kelas,saya terdengar suara cikgu yang kuat mengeluarkan kata-kata yang tak sepatutnya guru keluarkan kepada anak murid dan memarahi budak-budak dalam kelas tersebut,ada yang berdiri atas kerusi ada yang kene baling dengan buku,ada yang kena tempeling,dalam hati saya rasa nak belasah je balik cikgu tu,dah la dia selambe tanpa rasa segan silu walaupun saya ada di tepi kelas tersebut.Mungkin dia ingat saya ni hanya tukang kebun yang tidak berpelajaran,memang saya sakit hati dengan cikgu tersebut,sampai hari ini sebab dia melampau sangat dengan budak-budak tu,saya ingat dalam darjah 2 atau pun 3 macam tulah.
    Ini sepatutnya tidak berlaku kerana guru seharusnya memberikan yang terbaik untuk dicontohi oleh anak-anak bangsa.Bagilah macam mana sekalipun modul untuk murid-murid belajar tapi sekiranya guru tak membantu pun tak guna.contoh cikgu sendiri lemah dalam bahasa inggeris nak mengajar matematik atau sains dalam bahasa inggeris,sebab itu ada antara mereka yang menolak,apa yang penting adalah penyampaian kepada murid-murid dan penerimaan yang baik dari murid adalah lebih baik.
    Memang betul juga kata penghantar komen yang lain,ada jugak set abacus@sempua ni belambak kat sekolah tapi cikgu pun tak tau nak gunakan macam mana.urmmmm….yang kesiannya anak murid nak belajar tapi cikgu-cikgu yang malas nak mengajar bila murid kurang ajar,murid juga disalahkan.
    Kepada guru-guru tolonglah anak bangsa kita dalam memberikan pelajaran supaya guru-guru tidak dipersalahkan kelak.Dah banyak sangat kemudahan yang kerajaan berikan kepada guru-guru,tapi masih juga ada yang semacam ini,kebanyakan guru-guru yang mengajar di kampung terutama guru-guru duduk mengajar di kampung sendiri,dah naik lemak.mengajar lebih kurang,takda fokus kepada anak murid,aktiviti sekolah pun kurang,balik mengajar pegi kebun,pegi ke laut.Anak-anak murid pun dapat yang lebih kurang je..
    Apa-apa pun guru yang baik adalah guru yang melahirkan anak bangsa yang berkualiti dalam segala pencapaian.
    Tq Tun,tajuk ini ada emosional sikit saya sebab memang guru-guru ini kena jugak di didik mereka ini…
    Wassalam.

  19. Assalamualaikum Tun,
    Selamat tahun baru,semoga dalam keadaan sihat walafiat selalu hendaknya.
    Tajuk ini tidak kurang menarik perhatian saya,hari ini sesi persekolahan 2010 bermula,ramailah ibubapa yang pagi-pagi lagi sudah bersiap-siap untuk menghantar anak mereka kesekolah terutama sekali yang mula menduduki darjah 1.
    Pendidikan anak-anak adalah penting bagi menjamin kehidupan yang lebih baik,dan banyak lagilah kebaikan didalamnya.Maka adalah guru yang mengajar dan pelajar yang belajar.Dua insan ini saling memberi dan menerima,apa yang dipelajari di sekolah memberi kesan kepada anak-anak seumur hidup mereka samada yang baik mahupun yang kurang baik.
    Guru/cikgu adalah pekerjaan yang dipandang mulia,hormatilah guru kerana guru mendidik kita menjadi insan berguna,tetapi tidak semua guru begitu.Ada guru yang menganggap profesion guru adalah satu pekerjaan semata-mata,ditambah lagi dengan kemudahan yang banyak,gaji yang besar,elaun besar dan bermacam-macam elaun lagi,cuti pun banyak jadi ramailah lagi yang diluar sana inginkan jawatan guru ini.Kuantiti bukan lah penting sangat tetapi kualiti guru yang betul-betul ingin mendidik anak bangsa ini sudah semakin berkurangan.
    Sedikit cerita zaman saya di bangku sekolah,kerenah guru kadang-kadang lebih dari anak murid masuk kelas mengajar lebih kurang sahaja,”buka muka surat 57 semua,azman awak baca yang lain semak”,awak mari sini tolong picit kepala cikgu”,darjah 1.
    PJK (pendidikan jasmani),”kamu ambil bola dalam stor sukan,main jelah bola hari ni,minggu depan takda PJK ye,duduk dalam kelas je Ok”,cikgu PJK baju riadah/baju sukan pun tak bawa.”urmm,cikgu ni kalau kita tak bawak baju PJK nahas kita kene dengan dia,kalau dia sendiri tak bawak takapa”rungut si anak murid kepada rakan-rakannya.
    Di makmal sains,tabung uji berhabuk,penunu bunsen dah lama expired,mikroskop nampak macam barang antik dalam almari macam dekat muzium,sama juga dengan bengkel Kemahiran Hidup,kemas tersusun tukul-tukul dengan gergaji digantung didinding,takut nak pakai,dimomok-momok rosak kena ganti.
    Ada cikgu yang kalau marah macam kena sawan babi,merotan tanpa bicara apa kesalahan,kadang-kadang perkara kecil pun dah naik angin macam nak pecah satu kelas,marah tu boleh tapi biarlah berhikmah,ada acaranya nak bagi pengajaran,tahu takut anak murid pijak kepala,kalau cikgu betul pelajar yang bermasalah pun sayang kat cikgu tu.
    Ni satu lagi..3-4 tahun lepas semasa cuti semesta saya bekerja sebagai tukang kebun sekolah(sekolah rendah) sementara di satu sekolah ni,antara tugas-tugas tukang kebun,kena cuci tandas pelajar,sapu sampah di koridor depan kelas dan menyiram bunga.Di pendekkan cerita adalah satu hari tu semasa saya sedang menyapu sampah di tepi sebuah kelas,saya terdengar suara cikgu yang kuat mengeluarkan kata-kata yang tak sepatutnya guru keluarkan kepada anak murid dan memarahi budak-budak dalam kelas tersebut,ada yang berdiri atas kerusi ada yang kene baling dengan buku,ada yang kena tempeling,dalam hati saya rasa nak belasah je balik cikgu tu,dah la dia selambe tanpa rasa segan silu walaupun saya ada di tepi kelas tersebut.Mungkin dia ingat saya ni hanya tukang kebun yang tidak berpelajaran,memang saya sakit hati dengan cikgu tersebut,sampai hari ini sebab dia melampau sangat dengan budak-budak tu,saya ingat dalam darjah 2 atau pun 3 macam tulah.
    Ini sepatutnya tidak berlaku kerana guru seharusnya memberikan yang terbaik untuk dicontohi oleh anak-anak bangsa.Bagilah macam mana sekalipun modul untuk murid-murid belajar tapi sekiranya guru tak membantu pun tak guna.contoh cikgu sendiri lemah dalam bahasa inggeris nak mengajar matematik atau sains dalam bahasa inggeris,sebab itu ada antara mereka yang menolak,apa yang penting adalah penyampaian kepada murid-murid dan penerimaan yang baik dari murid adalah lebih baik.
    Memang betul juga kata penghantar komen yang lain,ada jugak set abacus@sempua ni belambak kat sekolah tapi cikgu pun tak tau nak gunakan macam mana.urmmmm….yang kesiannya anak murid nak belajar tapi cikgu-cikgu yang malas nak mengajar bila murid kurang ajar,murid juga disalahkan.
    Kepada guru-guru tolonglah anak bangsa kita dalam memberikan pelajaran supaya guru-guru tidak dipersalahkan kelak.Dah banyak sangat kemudahan yang kerajaan berikan kepada guru-guru,tapi masih juga ada yang semacam ini,kebanyakan guru-guru yang mengajar di kampung terutama guru-guru duduk mengajar di kampung sendiri,dah naik lemak.mengajar lebih kurang,takda fokus kepada anak murid,aktiviti sekolah pun kurang,balik mengajar pegi kebun,pegi ke laut.Anak-anak murid pun dapat yang lebih kurang je..
    Apa-apa pun guru yang baik adalah guru yang melahirkan anak bangsa yang berkualiti dalam segala pencapaian.
    Tq Tun,tajuk ini ada emosional sikit saya sebab memang guru-guru ini kena jugak di didik mereka ini…
    Wassalam.

  20. Assalamualaikum Tun,
    Selamat tahun baru,semoga dalam keadaan sihat walafiat selalu hendaknya.
    Tajuk ini tidak kurang menarik perhatian saya,hari ini sesi persekolahan 2010 bermula,ramailah ibubapa yang pagi-pagi lagi sudah bersiap-siap untuk menghantar anak mereka kesekolah terutama sekali yang mula menduduki darjah 1.
    Pendidikan anak-anak adalah penting bagi menjamin kehidupan yang lebih baik,dan banyak lagilah kebaikan didalamnya.Maka adalah guru yang mengajar dan pelajar yang belajar.Dua insan ini saling memberi dan menerima,apa yang dipelajari di sekolah memberi kesan kepada anak-anak seumur hidup mereka samada yang baik mahupun yang kurang baik.
    Guru/cikgu adalah pekerjaan yang dipandang mulia,hormatilah guru kerana guru mendidik kita menjadi insan berguna,tetapi tidak semua guru begitu.Ada guru yang menganggap profesion guru adalah satu pekerjaan semata-mata,ditambah lagi dengan kemudahan yang banyak,gaji yang besar,elaun besar dan bermacam-macam elaun lagi,cuti pun banyak jadi ramailah lagi yang diluar sana inginkan jawatan guru ini.Kuantiti bukan lah penting sangat tetapi kualiti guru yang betul-betul ingin mendidik anak bangsa ini sudah semakin berkurangan.
    Sedikit cerita zaman saya di bangku sekolah,kerenah guru kadang-kadang lebih dari anak murid masuk kelas mengajar lebih kurang sahaja,”buka muka surat 57 semua,azman awak baca yang lain semak”,awak mari sini tolong picit kepala cikgu”,darjah 1.
    PJK (pendidikan jasmani),”kamu ambil bola dalam stor sukan,main jelah bola hari ni,minggu depan takda PJK ye,duduk dalam kelas je Ok”,cikgu PJK baju riadah/baju sukan pun tak bawa.”urmm,cikgu ni kalau kita tak bawak baju PJK nahas kita kene dengan dia,kalau dia sendiri tak bawak takapa”rungut si anak murid kepada rakan-rakannya.
    Di makmal sains,tabung uji berhabuk,penunu bunsen dah lama expired,mikroskop nampak macam barang antik dalam almari macam dekat muzium,sama juga dengan bengkel Kemahiran Hidup,kemas tersusun tukul-tukul dengan gergaji digantung didinding,takut nak pakai,dimomok-momok rosak kena ganti.
    Ada cikgu yang kalau marah macam kena sawan babi,merotan tanpa bicara apa kesalahan,kadang-kadang perkara kecil pun dah naik angin macam nak pecah satu kelas,marah tu boleh tapi biarlah berhikmah,ada acaranya nak bagi pengajaran,tahu takut anak murid pijak kepala,kalau cikgu betul pelajar yang bermasalah pun sayang kat cikgu tu.
    Ni satu lagi..3-4 tahun lepas semasa cuti semesta saya bekerja sebagai tukang kebun sekolah(sekolah rendah) sementara di satu sekolah ni,antara tugas-tugas tukang kebun,kena cuci tandas pelajar,sapu sampah di koridor depan kelas dan menyiram bunga.Di pendekkan cerita adalah satu hari tu semasa saya sedang menyapu sampah di tepi sebuah kelas,saya terdengar suara cikgu yang kuat mengeluarkan kata-kata yang tak sepatutnya guru keluarkan kepada anak murid dan memarahi budak-budak dalam kelas tersebut,ada yang berdiri atas kerusi ada yang kene baling dengan buku,ada yang kena tempeling,dalam hati saya rasa nak belasah je balik cikgu tu,dah la dia selambe tanpa rasa segan silu walaupun saya ada di tepi kelas tersebut.Mungkin dia ingat saya ni hanya tukang kebun yang tidak berpelajaran,memang saya sakit hati dengan cikgu tersebut,sampai hari ini sebab dia melampau sangat dengan budak-budak tu,saya ingat dalam darjah 2 atau pun 3 macam tulah.
    Ini sepatutnya tidak berlaku kerana guru seharusnya memberikan yang terbaik untuk dicontohi oleh anak-anak bangsa.Bagilah macam mana sekalipun modul untuk murid-murid belajar tapi sekiranya guru tak membantu pun tak guna.contoh cikgu sendiri lemah dalam bahasa inggeris nak mengajar matematik atau sains dalam bahasa inggeris,sebab itu ada antara mereka yang menolak,apa yang penting adalah penyampaian kepada murid-murid dan penerimaan yang baik dari murid adalah lebih baik.
    Memang betul juga kata penghantar komen yang lain,ada jugak set abacus@sempua ni belambak kat sekolah tapi cikgu pun tak tau nak gunakan macam mana.urmmmm….yang kesiannya anak murid nak belajar tapi cikgu-cikgu yang malas nak mengajar bila murid kurang ajar,murid juga disalahkan.
    Kepada guru-guru tolonglah anak bangsa kita dalam memberikan pelajaran supaya guru-guru tidak dipersalahkan kelak.Dah banyak sangat kemudahan yang kerajaan berikan kepada guru-guru,tapi masih juga ada yang semacam ini,kebanyakan guru-guru yang mengajar di kampung terutama guru-guru duduk mengajar di kampung sendiri,dah naik lemak.mengajar lebih kurang,takda fokus kepada anak murid,aktiviti sekolah pun kurang,balik mengajar pegi kebun,pegi ke laut.Anak-anak murid pun dapat yang lebih kurang je..
    Apa-apa pun guru yang baik adalah guru yang melahirkan anak bangsa yang berkualiti dalam segala pencapaian.
    Tq Tun,tajuk ini ada emosional sikit saya sebab memang guru-guru ini kena jugak di didik mereka ini…
    Wassalam.

  21. Salam Tun & All,
    I 100% agree with Abu Sayab and we should revamp our education system particularly our Sekolah Kebangsaan which has been the root of many problems to Malays especially.
    Points to highlight:
    1) More & more Malays are sending their kids to Chinese schools and private schools (for those who can afford)
    2) Many of us dah hilang kepercayaan terhadap kualiti pengajaran dan tenaga2 pengajar di sekolah
    3) Sadly, majority of tenaga pengajar sekolah2 kebangsaan sekarang adalah Melayu & 70% are perempuan
    4) Kualiti cikgu sekarang adalah mengikut apa yang mereka fikirkan betul bagi mereka. Diperhatikan banyak cikgu2 cuba menerapkan atau menambahkan unsur2 Islam kepada murid2 dan ini menakutkan dan membuatkan ibubapa bukan Islam tidak mahu menghantar anak2 mereka ke sekolah kebangsaan.
    5) Yes, its very true that majority of current teachers cannot converse in English and sadly that includes those who supposed to be trained as English teachers
    6) Zaman dahulu when we follow many Brittish style of teaching and we’ve been thought manners – hormat the elders, teachers & those simple things like saying thank you and greet others
    7) Sekarang semua orang nak jadi ustaz & ustazah, tak cukup dengan sekolah agama cikgu2 sekolah kebangsaan busy dengan suruh murid doa pagi petang, stress on tutup aurat, majlis2 agama disekolah etc
    8) WHAT MOST IMPORTANT NOW ALSO IS THE IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS. Many sekolah2 & cikgu2 (which are mostly perempuan melayu bertudung) hanya menjalankan aktiviti sukan sekolah sekadar mencukupkan syarat.
    9) TO ME SPORTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO SHAPE THE STUDENTS CHARACTER. SPORTS WILL MAKE YOU STRONGER MENTALLY & PHISICALLY. SUKAN MENGAJAR KITA APA ITU BERJUANG DAN MENERIMA KEMENANGAN & JUGA KEKALAHAN.
    10) Tetapi sistem education sekarang mengutamakan keputusan akademik sahaj. Prestasi sekolah dan guru2 adalah berdasarkan academic result oriented.
    11) Jadi produk2 sistem education sekarang adalah pelajar2 yg berjiwa kosong, lost, not independent & tak mampu berkomunikasi walaupun ramai mereka yg mendapat 5As, 8As, or 21As.
    12) Makin ramai pelajar lelaki yg ketinggalan kerana jumlah mereka yg mendapat ‘good academic results’ makin jauh berkurangan berbanding perempuan. Budak2 lelaki adalah kaum yg mempunyai lot of energy berbanding perempuan & jika tidak ada aktiviti2 sukan utk mereka mereka akan spend their ‘energies’ kepada aktiviti2 lain – yg mana banyak unsur2 yg tidak baik.
    13) Naikkan taraf & naikkan gaji2 cikgu supaya kita akan mendapat those people yg with good talents & committed to become cikgu. Also cikgu2 must come from good mix – lelaki / perempuan & lain2 bangsa.
    14) Anak2 melayu harus mendapat good exposure di sekolah so that they can be a wholesome person and can survive di alam kehidupan yg mencabar kelak.
    15) Mendpat good results dlm akademik sahaja tidak menjamin they will survive & mendapat ilmu agama sahaja tidak akan mampu membuat anak2 kita menjadi insan yang berguna
    Sekian, please be rationale
    khalilmatdom

  22. Assalamualaikum,
    Yang Berbahagia Tun Dr. Mahathir dan Isteri
    Yang dihormati para blogger
    Tun,
    Beberapa tahun yang lalu saya ada menulis sebuah cerita untuk sebuah majalah tempatan berjudul “Cinta Matematik”. Nukilan ini saya sertakan di sini untuk bacaan Tun dan para blogger Tun sekalian.
    *****************************************************************
    Cinta Matematik
    Saya sedang makan tengah hari di satu penjuru Rumah Universiti bersama-sama seorang saintis, Aminah (bukan nama sebenar). Sedang rancak kami berbual tentang pelbagai perkara rutin dan kerenah yang berlaku di Jabatan masing-masing, Aminah menegur,

  23. This is a time, our government to setup a school system with stream of Express / Normal / Average Secondary School. So these will remove away those road hogging on the fast lane.

  24. YABhg Tun,
    ” Seek knowledge, even as far as China ” said Our Prophet Muhammad ( SAW )

  25. The standard of education has dropped dramatically since the early eighties.I just wish to make a few comparisons between the present and during the 70’s/80’s
    1)Today many of the teachers in Sek. Kebangsaan do not have the motivation or passion in teaching and they treat teaching is just like any other job.(Some are very busy with their laptop or handphone instead of teaching… There many of them! Just walk into any school you sure can find one if not more)
    2)English teacher speaking to students in Malay during English class.
    3)Teacher doing part-time direct-selling or tuition.
    4)There are so many errors in exam papers and school work book.
    5)Lesser homework.
    6)Racial remarks.
    7)Sports and ex-curriculum are not being taken seriously.Many schools don’t even enough sports facilities
    8)Many Headmasters or Headmistress are promoted because they have connection with certain politician.The capable and hardwoking ones are left behind.
    9)etc..etc… and the list goes on…
    These are the few reasons why tuition centers are booming everywhere.During the seventies only very slow student needs tuition but today every student goes for it eating away their time and putting stress on them and parents
    What has went wrong and how did it goes?
    The whole education system needs an immediate revamp before its too late.Perhaps we need to start from the top, appoint a qualified Educationist to be our Education Minister and not a politician.

  26. Sekarang semua hidup dengan komputer samada di pejabat atau rumah. Bila elektrik terganggu semua kerja tak boleh buat. Sebab Taip writer remington dah kena buang.
    Pakai kalkulator kena pakai bateri atau elektrik. Kalau elektrik putus masa mengira, bukan ke susah. Kalau bateri weak masa guna kalkulator bukankah parah namanya.
    Sempoa tak pakai bateri atau elektrik pun. Kalau supermarket atau kedai putus elektrik pun kasier boleh pakai lilin dan masih boleh kira duit. Ini tak, bila putus elektrik, kedai pun tutup sebab nak kira bayaran 3.55 sen pun nak pakai kalkulator.
    Sekadar jenaka untuk TNB.

  27. Dear Tun,
    I’m a firm believer that a good education is the basis of successful nation building and creation of a greater society of citizens. I was educated overseas since primary school because my parents did not beleive in the Malaysian education system then.
    Your suggestion of teaching Prof Xu Zi Zhong’s method is indeed a great idea. I would love to contact the professor should he be open to suggestions on expanding his study methods.

  28. Assalammualaikum tun,
    mohon maaf sekiranya dalam ayat ayat ini tidak bergitu baik,
    salam tun,selamat tahun baru 2010,
    iq#q ini orang kampung,umur masih muda lagi,masuk lingkungan 30an,rasa nak bertanggungjawab pada negara,maklumlah warganegara,tapi tak tahu jalan,ada hitam ada putih,ada yang kata putih kata hitam,ada yang hitam kata pulak putih,ada pulak pelangi nak jadi hitam putih.
    yang mana satu yang nak saya pilih???????yang saya minat biru putih!!!!
    ialah mak bapak saya biru putih,asalnya kuning,ikut bapak negeri sembilan,ikut mak johor.
    berhijrah punya pasal minat pulak biru putih,kalau nak cerita hikayat hidup panjang sangat,lebih panjang daripada keris undangan empat JOHOL saya,sebab orang melayu pilih ekonami berbanding pilih keris,
    Apalagi negara yang ada……………..,??????????
    tengoklah korea ……kuat Eek…..
    maklumlah saya ni budak kecil tak pandai ,…orang kampung pulak tu..
    tahu nya gambar agong yang ada dalam satu ringgit malaysia,
    kalau dinilaikan..mungkin tak mahal,mungkin tak murah,
    apa yang ada nilai sekeping kertas yang biru putih,
    tapi saya suka yang sebenar benarnya,agong yang dalam nilai RM 10 (ringgit Malaysia) merah putih.
    yang saya tahu bagi saya yang paling mahal nilai KEMERDEKAAN,
    sejarah bukan untuk di ulang tetapi harus di kenang,
    sejarah tetap sejarah,sejarah tetap sejarah,sejarah tetap sejarah.
    bagi orang kampung macam saya dacing atau timbang perlu digunakan,,
    pening pening pening..sebab mana satu saya nak pilih,,
    tolonglah Dr M selaku Mentor saya,,,
    SATU MALAYSIA SATU MAHATHIR.
    MAN @ AKI tOK aYAH
    JM 0450383X

  29. SALAM KASIH DAN SAYANG
    AYAHANDA RAKYAT TUN
    IZINKAN,
    MOHON LARI TAJUK SEJENAK
    Dr M: Kebenaran guna kalimah Allah perlu syarat ketat
    Beliau berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur pada Khamis lepas yang membenarkan akhbar mingguan Herald-The Catolic Weekly menggunakan perkataan “Allah”.
    KALIMAH ALLAH ADALAH SHAHADAT DAN ZIKIR BAGI SEORANG BERUGAMA ISLAM. APABILA SESAORANG ITU MENYEBUT ALLAH, MAKA MESTILAH MEMBISIK DIDALAM HATINYA…SEGALA PUJI2AN ADALAH UNTUK NYA DAN DIIKUTI DENGAN SELAWAT KEATAS NABI MUHAMMAD!
    MAKA BILA SESIAPA HENDAK BERDAKWAH MENGGUNA NAMA ALLAH IANYA MESTILAH BERKAIT DENGAN NABI (MUHAMMAD) DAN KITAB (ALQURAN) AKHIR ZAMAN DAN BUKAN DIRUJUK KEPADA NABI2 DAN KITAB2 TERDAHULU.
    KRISTIAN KE, YAHUDI KE ATAU SESIAPA JUA BERHAK MENYEBUT ALLAH TETAPI MESTILAH DIIDAHULUI DENGAN THE ALMIGHTY (MAHAKUASA) DAN DIIKUTI ( ALL PRAISES TO ALLAH AND ALL BLESSES TO HIS PROPHET MUHAMMAD)OR OTHERWISE BE FORBIDDENED TO USE IT IN THE NAME OF GOD.
    WE BELIEVE ALL MUSLIMS OF THE WORLD WILL WELCOME THE HIGH COURT DECISION IF THE POPE WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THE USE OF THE NAME ‘ALLAH'(SINCE THE ‘WORD’ ALLAH IS UNIVERSAL) AS THEIR ALMIGHTY LORD! IN ALL THEIR SUMMONS IN THE CHURCHES OF THE WORLD.
    WE BELIEVE THAT NO ‘APPEAL’ IS NEEDED IF THE MALAYSIAN CHURCHES CAN GET THE POPE TO CONCUR WITH THE HIGH COURT DECISION AND THE USE OF THE WORD ALMIGHTY ALLAH NOT ONLY IN THE Herald-Catholic Weekly but IN THE VATICAN!!!???
    TIADA ADAM, HAWA DAN UMAT MANUSIA TANPA NUR ALLAH DAN NUR MUHAMMAD.
    ALFATIHAH, AMIN.

  30. Saya merasakan sistem ini perlukan lebih bnayak penelitian dan jikalau terbukti berkesan mengapa tidak di guna bagi melahirkan lebih ramai bijak pandai dalam matematik di negaraa kita….malah adar kedengaran bahawa ibu kepada genius matematik sufiah yusof telah bersetuju untuk menerangkan cara beliau mendidik anak2 beliau menjadi genius matematik dah adalah wajar perkara ini di berikan perhatian oleh kementerian pelajaran…

  31. salam tun… idea yang sangat bernas. saya rasa kanak-kanak akan mudah belajar. dengan ini akan menambahkan pelajar atau rakyat yang bijak di masa hadapan. hal ini akan menjadikan negara kita satu negara yang dapat bersaing di masa hadapan.

  32. Salam Tun,
    I’m the writer of the Learning Mathematics with the Abacus books that was once used in schools starting from 2005. I am an instructional designer who learns the subject, master it, and eventually write materials using the best teaching methods for students to learn is as effectively as possible.
    I learned from one of the master trainers who were responsible to teach all Math teachers to use the abacus (who was actually trained by Prof Xu Si Zhong.
    I wrote the books under the master trainer’s supervision and eventually came up with something that even amazed the master trainer herself. We sent the books to the MOE for evaluation and eventually it got approved to be used in schools nationwide during the 2004-2006 period.
    Then, the schools have stopped implementing the program. Probably because the teachers have no will power, or maybe couldn’t care less about the abacus program at school.
    So looking at the scenario at that time, I’ve decided to go online and market the books overseas. The response were great. Many acknowledge the fact that our books were the best of its kind, suitable for schooling kids. Many homeschool parents and teachers from all over the world have bought and used our books and are asking us to produce more materials for advance stages.
    I would be happy if I can meet up with Prof Xu Si Zhong (and his translator) to improve on my books further, and maybe would establish a learning center for this purpose, since many people from USA, India, etc have already asked us on franchise opportunities just from looking at our books. I have always told them that we were mere book publishers who publish the books.
    Regards,
    Sheikh Faisal
    MathAbacus.com

  33. Assalamualaikum Tun.
    Pelik jugak tengok bentuk abascus,tapi boleh buat kira matematik yang kompleks.
    Baru-baru ni saya terjumpa dan berpeluang membaca buku berkaitan agama termasuk tasawuf dan jugak sejarah salasilah kedatangan ahlul-bait ke Asia Tenggara.
    Buku ini termasuk diberi prakata oleh YM Syed Umar ibni Syed Abdul Kadir Al-Idrus yang memangku Sultan Terengganu pada tahun 2000.Buku ini juga dijadikan rujukan oleh Perpustakaan Negara.
    Kalau ikut pada perkiraan saya yang tak seberapa ni,Syed Umar adalah cucu cicit pada Syed Abdul Rahman (Tokku Paloh).Begitulah sepatutnya yang berlaku.
    Barang siapa yang memandai-mandai kata sekarang hanya Sultan Terengganu yang kecik tu je memerintah,sila berfikir sebelum bercakap sembarangan.
    Dalam fikiran saya ni ada satu perkara yang berkaitan dengan Majlis Syura’ yang masih saya KIV kan dulu.Mungkin bila ada masa terluang dan ilham yang mendatang nanti boleh saya tuliskan sedikit sebanyak apa yang berkaitan termasuk bersangkutan dengan tasawuf secara umum mungkin.
    Terima kasih Tun.

  34. Tun,
    Though a chinese and i do sent my children to SRJK (C) schools, but i do not think learning to count faster will improve our lot. And you have to content with the nationalistic feelings of the majority 60% who prefers not to allow further inches or centimeters along the ruler. There is a foreign subject now becoming the key success factor of our nation. That subject i mean is English, the language of our past colonial master and still present neo-colonialistic master.
    Of course you have touched on English’s importance enough. But 2012 (when the revert to the Bahasa medium takes hold) is drawing near and it is the ‘doomsday’ for Malaysia at least – when we can hardly speak well enough to impress the world then.
    Even if we can count awfully fast, but in what dimensions and for what areas of interest? As a street hawker or someone who possess deeper resources that the English language can bestow upon us?
    I could not fare well in double maths in ‘A’ levels but i used well the power of reaching into the depths of knowledge via a powerful grasp of British’s English. I am afraid our kiasu nation will ‘su’ or lose further in so many areas mentionable. What wanton waste.
    Redhuan D. Oon
    Open Source Empire

  35. Dear Tun,
    1. Happy New Year!
    2. I love learning Maths! This is a good idea and MoE should make it compulsory in the syllabus
    3. I also want to see our new generation to start school 1 or 2 years earlier instead of at 7 year old. Kids today grew faster than kids in the 70’s & 80’s. This save time and they can joint the work force much earlier too
    4. I want MoE to merge proven methods used in Chinese school into the government national school!
    5. We want to have more intergration between races done in school and at earlier age!
    6. Method of teaching in school should be reviewed, educators must inspires and teach in a manner to have our student more vocal and a notion towards better life
    Lastly, I want to thanks Tun for being a role model when I need it!

  36. Salam Tun,
    Sokong. Selain daripada itu, Kementerian pelajaran patut kaji semula silabus agar menjadi lebih Dari dulu lagi saya memang respek idea2 Tun, walaupun kita berbeza pegangan politik tetapi Tun tetap mempunyai buah fikiran dan idea yang bernas berdasarkan pengalaman Tun. Malang sekali kerajaan sekarang tak berapa kreatif dan kritis.
    Zaman Tun macam2 perkara baru dapat dilihat oleh rakyat. Walaupun ada projek menemui kegagalan tetapi banyak juga yang berjaya…and all….u did it ur way(Frank Sinatra-My Way)
    Amat berbeza seorang doktor dan ahli politik menjadi Perdana Menteri berbanding ahli politik semata2.
    U R still the best!

  37. If i were government I would allow the use of electronic calculator to primary school students to save time from memorising sifir

  38. haaa! nanti ada la comment yang cakap Tun saja nak ambil hati dengan tulis artikel ni kan? politik politik politik… just pasal ideologi politik, sesetengah anda akan cuba mencari ‘lubang’ untuk mengkritik Tun walaupun apa yang Tun tulis betul..
    hehehe
    standard la
    kekuasaan
    ideologi
    perkauman
    egoistik
    dari dulu perkara-perkara ini menjadi punca manusia bertelagah..
    by the way Tun, saya setuju dengan penggunaan teknik ni.. tetapi bagi pendapat saya, di Malaysia,matematik dilihat dengan konsep ‘mengikut peraturan’.. sebab itulah tak pernah lagi ada tokoh sains dan matematik dari Malaysia.. saya sebagai seorang pelajar melihat HAMPIR SEMUA(!!) kwan-kawan saya mengikut peraturan(iaitu menghafal rumus dan buat latihan hanya untuk peperiksaan) walhal matematik adalah seperti jambatan yang menghubungkan konsep-konsep sains(khususnya)
    paling jelas, saya nak tanya, mana pelajar-pelajar cemerlang SPM yang berbelas-belas ‘a’? apa yang mereka fikir ‘score exam, dapat belajar di universiti bertaraf dunia dan balik dapat kerja yang gajinya tinggi’itu je.. itu la kepuasan tertinggi majoriti orang malaysia.. yang jumpa teori-teori sains siapa? yahudi! then masing-masing(orang islam khususnya) assume yang ‘yahudi memang dilahirkan pandai’!!! jika dilihat kembali, tak nampak kah anda yang kita seperti melemaskan semangat kita sendiri?
    mana ahli-ahli sains Malaysia?! saya pernah bertanya kepada pensyarah saya diuniversiti yang terkenal dikalangan masyarakat melayu, sesuatu yang agak tinggi(katanya) dalam fizik.. apa yang saya dapat hanya jawapan yang ringkas ‘tak tahu la, tak masuk silibus pun.. jangan risau’… and apa yang menarik, jawapan itu semuanya sama dengan 8 lagi pensyarah fizik dan matematik yang pernah saya tanya.. ya! 8.. very significant figure! memang saya ingat!
    kita patut mula berubah sekarang dari negara membangun ke negara maju.. which is minat mencari ilmu.. bukan dengan MELIHAT NOT-NOT RINGGIT..
    saya tak hebat.. saya masih belajar.. tetapi saya yakin dengan pendapat saya ini..
    dan saya pasti comment saya ini akan diendahkan:)
    asifadio

  39. DeaR TUN,
    Wishing YB TUN and family , a happy new year and may god grant good
    health in the coming years . Amin.
    Its a fact ABACUS , is a tool to further enhance the ability of students
    in the understanding , solving, memorizing and other related maths field
    The moving of beads up and down, helps trigger the brain to stimulate
    the correct answers . This exercise the brain to better its functions in
    other fields. That ‘s why Chinese students excel in their studies.
    This ABACUS was introduce during your time BUT was never or partially
    implemented .I did buy for my children, was never taught in school may be
    there were no teachers with the expertise to teach or teachers refuse
    additional burden…god knows ..
    Malay students are mostly weak in Maths , not because they are stupid
    but their perception towards that subject. Mathematics , when given or
    ask to solve, triggers in their mind as something difficult and slows
    their effort even to try. May be if Abacus was implemented , things
    could improve .
    Another thing which I want to share is our teachers in school. I have a
    daughter in pra school last year. She will be in Year One this year.
    Everyday, when I pick her up from school, I will ask her , …..
    “BELAJAR APA HARI INI , YA ” ?
    She will answer…………….
    “TAK DE BELAJAR HARI INI , AYAH , CIKGU MAIN LAP TOP “… or
    “YA NAMPAK CIKGU MAIN GAMES DALAM LAPTOP ” …..
    These are some of the answers my daughter responded. Its sad that this
    teacher is not doing his job well.This is one example. What happens
    if there are many teachers with this attitude ??????
    What I observe there are some teachers , who are plain lazy in class.They
    will sit at the teachers table , and ask the students to do your own work
    And the saddest part is they are Malay teachers , teaching 95% Malay
    students .TIDAK ADA SEMANGAT UNTUK MAJUKAN BANGSA – Disgrace. They must
    visit the chinese schools .. how their teachers teach .
    I’m not surprised when they say PPSMI failed in the rural schools. The
    teachers are not competent to teach , they teach in Bahasa Melayu , some
    teachers teach because of the allowance , and this have been going for
    years , without proper monitoring , and the Gov. because of its weakness,
    made a political decision to revoked PPSMI . Now its back to square one.
    I hope the Education Minister, make a study and implement some reforms
    on all aspects of education for the benefit of all Malaysians . Don’t
    bow to political demands or popularity .

  40. Assalamualaikum Tun,
    Semoga Tun dan keluarga dalam keadaan sihat walafiat.
    Usah dihiraukan Tun terhadap komen-komen negatif yang hadir dalam blog Tun. Komen-komen itu datangnya dari orang-orang yang singkat fikiran,kurang pengalaman hidup,kurang membaca,kurang bergaul dengan orang-orang cerdik pandai dan kurang vitamin dalam otaknya.
    Apa yang telah Tun dan Perdana Menteri-Perdana
    Menteri sebelum ini lakukan terhadap masyarakat dan negara Malaysia tidak ternilai harganya walau pun di bandingkan dengan negara-negara maju yang lain dalam dunia ini.Kalau tak percaya saya cabar orang -orang yang kurang vitamin dalam otaknya dan tak tahu bersyukur itu pergilah bermastautin di negara-negara yang disukainya.Baru dapat tahu sama ada langit itu tinggi atau rendah. Kalau dah tak suka Malaysia silakan keluar dari Malaysia dan tinggallah di negara yang anda suka dan tak payah pulang-pulang lagi. Silakan pergi. Kita di sini mahukan masyarakat yang aman dan bahagia.
    Topik saterusnya ialah:
    1. Saya nak bertanya di manakah pejuang-pejuang bahasa yang kononnya berjuang untuk memartabatkan Bahasa Malaysia dalam pengajaran dan pembelajaran sains dan matematik itu pergi setelah matlamat mereka tercapai. Senyap sepi. Apakah usaha-usaha mereka dalam memartabatkan Bahasa Malaysia. Saya tengok penggunaan Bahasa Malaysia dalam percakapan masyarakat Malaysia,papan-papan tanda,risalah-risalah,kain-kain rentang semakin teruk ? Kenapa tak menjelajah seluruh Malaysia dan perbetulkanlah kesalahan-kesalahan yang berlaku ini.Mana dia orang-orang yang berdemonstrasi menentang PPSMI dahulu ? Kenapa diam sahaja…bodoh,pengecut,pengkhianat bangsa.Orang nak majukan bangsa sendiri supaya dapat maju dalam Bahasa Inggeris ,mereka menentang pula.Tahukah wahai si bodoh bahawa berapa ramai anak-anak Melayu walaupun bermula dari darjah satu dapat bertutur dalam Bahasa Inggeris dengan fasih dan dapat melakukan kiraan dalam matematik dengan bagusnya. Cikgu sendiri pun yang lemah dalam Bahasa Inggerinya dapat meningkatkan kemahiran berbahasa mereka. Bukan sepanjang masa bercakap Bahasa Inggeris, cuma dalam waktu-waktu tertentu sahaja.Mengapa tak ada usaha menterjemahkan buku-buku rujukan sains dan matematik dalam Bahasa Inggeris di universiti-universiti yang beribu-ribu jumlahnya pada masa ini ? Tun sebenarnya dah berbuat yang sehabis baik untuk bangsa Melayu.
    2. Saya setuju dengan pandangan melantik bekas Naib Canselor Uitm yang bersara iaitu Dr. Ibrahim sebagai Manteri Pelajaran Malaysia. Beliau seperti Tun berjiwa Melayu tulin dan amat tegas dalam suatu-suatu hal.Barulah sektor pendidikan Malaysia akan maju.Menteri pelajaran mestilah dari bekas-bekas pendidik, barulah dia boleh melaksanakan dasar-dasar pelajaran dengan baik.Sekarang ini terlalu banyak dasar-dasar pelajaran yang dicipta sehingga memeningkan kepala para pendidik.
    3. Orang Melayu kenalah bangkit dan berani melakukan sesuatu dalam apa-apa hal yang melibatkan ketuanan Melayu.Jangan bagi orang lain menghina kita.Beranilah seberani Tun sewaktu pemerintahan Tun.kalau tak berani letak jawatan sahaja.Banyak lagi orang-orang lain lagi yang lebih berani dari anda tapi tidak dapat berbuat apa-apa kerana tiada kuasa.UMNO adalah MELAYU..MELAYU adalah UMNO.Komen lain akan menyusul lagi.
    Selamat berbahagia Tun…orang-orang yang ikhlas di dalam hatinya sentiasa dirahmati ALLAH.Amin.

  41. Dear Tun Dr. Mahatir,
    My name is Dorai. Currently, i am running a private kindergarten in laos. i wish to be put in contact with Prof Xu Si Zhong with the above matter. Thanking in advance and Wishing you and your family a jayous happy new year.

  42. YABHG Tun,
    Kisah pendidikan dalam negara kita terus berkecamuk. Kalau dilihat kecelaruan ini berlaku bilamana sektor pendidikan dalam negara dipisahkan iaitu berpecahnya kepada dua kementerian iaitu pelajaran dan pengajian tinggi. Sejak wujudnya dua kementerian ini, keadaan pendidikan sentiasa kacau bilau. Kedua-dua kementerian pada hakikatnya tidak boleh langsung berkomunikasi dalam menentukan arah tuju pendidikan anak bangsa kita.
    Lihat saja PIPP , KPM dan PSPTN oleh KPT menuju hala berlainan. Masing-masing pegawai dan pemimpin kedua-dua kementerian ini berkeras dengan ego mereka. Anak bangsa yang terjejas. Lihat saja apabila kementerian yang baru ini bertukar 3 menteri dalam 5 tahun berbanding kementerian pelajaran yang mempunyai menteri yang lama perkhidmatannya untuk membolehkan apa-apa rancangan dilaksanakan dengan bakik.
    Bukan isu penempatan yang dihasilkan oleh IPT yang gagal di selesaikan oleh KPM, Isu unjuran pelajar matrikulasi KPM juga menjadi masalah kepada IPT apabila standard lulusan matrikulasi KPM bergitu rendah. Akhirnya KPT pula mengadakan program matrikulasi sendiri di IPTAnya. Perlukah ada dua kementerian melahirkan guru. Perlukah ada dua kementerian melahirkan calon matrikulasi. Semuanya mengikut perancangan masing-masing tanpa sinergi satu sama lain.
    Elok rasanya kedua-dua kementerian ini digabungkan kembali dibawah satu Kementerian seperti dulu. Negara pun dapat menjimatkan kos pengurusan kerana begitu rmaai yang mentadbir berbanding mengajar. Betapa ruginya, gaji seorang guru atau pensyarah dibayar untuk bekerja di Kementerian, tetapi hanya mentadbir tanpa mengajar. Dan menjadi kesulitan pula apabila nak menghantar guru dan pensyarah kembali mengajar kerana keengganan keluar dari kementerian apabila sudah selesa mentadbir dan memerintah dan menandatangani surat saja.
    Lebih pelik lagi adalah program PERMATA untuk anak kecil dikendalikan oleh IPT yang menjaga pelajar dewasa yang sepatutnya KPM atau KEMAS saja mengendalikan anak-anak kecil ini. Perlukah ada tiga agensi bersaing menjaga anak kecil dibawah 6 tahun ini. Terlalu mahal gaji JUSA A dan Profesor nak menjaga budak bawah 6 tahun. Lebih baik para profesor perkukuhkan keupayaan graduan kita supaya lebih market driven dan dapat bersaing dengan graduan lulusan luar negara yang sering mengatasi graduan lulusan dalam negara.
    Semoga pentadbiran Dato Seri Najib akan melihat lebih serius struktur sistem pendidikan negara kita pada masa ini. Janganlah kita asyik leka dengan slogan world class university, menang medal sana sini bertanding dengan budak sekolah menengah negara lain di Geneva dan sebagainya tetapi tidak dapat dikomersilkan di dalam negara sendiri. Sedangkan isu lebihan penawaran graduan pun tak dapat difikirkan. Ini belum tengok lagi fakta sebenarnya kebolehpasaran graduan berbanding laporan mencurigakan yang sering dipaparkan pada orang ramai.
    Dr. Nurdin.

  43. Salam kasih dan salam hormat Ayahanda Tun.
    Sememangnya keputusan ini menunjukkan kelemahan yang teramat sangat pada pihak pentadbir negara. Saya mencadangkan kepada PM supaya Menteri KDN ditukarkan sahaja dengan calon lain yang mungkin juga hanya bergelar Senator tanpa periuk nasi politik. Pihak pembangkang nampaknya senantiasa mengacukan strategi serampang dua/tiga mata kepada pentadbiran 1 Malaysia DSN kini. Kenaikan harga gula juga telah menyebabkan barangan sampingan lain mula naik harga. Harga roti sudah mula naik 20% ke 35%, selepas ini saya pastu kuih-muih pula dan juga akhirnya rakyat akan sekali lagi menelan kenaikkan kos hidup dalam menongkah kehidupan dengan pendapatan yang tidak lagi selari dengan kos kehidupan. DSN mesti bertindak mengembalikan kekayaan kepada rakyat dan bukan mengurangkan rezeki kais ayam rakyat. Rakyat tidak mampu pergi bercuti ke French Riviera di atas kapal kemudian terjumpa barangan berharga kerabat diRaja Arab dan mendapat ganjaran 1 juta selepas memulangkannya. Rakyat nak jumpa RM1 tercicir ditempat letak kereta pun dah susah hari ini sebenarnya (budak-budak sorong troley Tesco cakap pada saya). Jika Dr Maza menulis bahawa pembangkang telah menjadikan isu agama sebagai candu untuk rakyat bangun memberontak (opium revolution) kepada kerajaan, saya menambah sebenarnya kerajaan yang bagi subsidi candu ini kepada mereka dengan sikap lalai, angkuh dan kedewaan pentadbir negara kita. Memberikan subsidi candu adalah perkara biasa kepada kerajaan agaknya sebab DALAM ERA PEMERINTAHAN AJKT4 ABDULLAH BADAWI, WANG CUKAI PENDAPATAN RAKYAT DIGUNAKAN UNTUK MEMBERIKAN METHADONE KEPADA PENAGIH DADAH DIMALAYSIA SEBAGAI GANTI DADAH JENIS LAIN. KONONNYA NAK MEMBANTU MEREKA SEMBUH. TAPI INGAT, DUIT CUKAI PENDAPATAN RAKYAT BAYAR DENGAN WANG KERJA MEREKA. SAYA BARU MENGHADIRI DIALOG TIDAK FORMAL KUMPULAN KECIL BEBERAPA PEKERJA BANK DAN MEREKA RATA-RATA MARAH DENGAN SIKAP KERAJAAN YANG MENCUKAI WANG OVERTIME MEREKA JUGA. TAPI SAYA DIAM SAHAJA SEBAB SAYA LAGI TAHU MEREKA AKAN LEBIH MARAH JIKA MEREKA TAHU BAHAWA PENTADBIRAN PAK LAH DULU TELAH BAGI SUBSIDI METHADONE KEPADA PENAGIH TEGAR SELURUH NEGARA. PROJEK KERAJAAN, DUIT KERAJAAN (DUIT RAKYAT). POLISI BODOH INI MASIH KEKAL HINGGA KE HARI INI. KEPADA KRONI AJKT4, JANGAN MARAH SAYA (MACAM SAYA PEDULI/HERAN), SAYA CUMA INGATKAN SATU DUNIA TENTANG KEBODOHAN PENTADBIRAN DATUK SERI ABDULLAH DULU (BOS ANDA) SAHAJA. ADA SESIAPA DISINI BOLEH MEMBERITAHU SAMA ADA PROJEK INI SUDAH DITAMATKAN ATAU BELUM? SATU LAGI PELURU PEMBANGKANG!
    http://www.bharian.com.my/Current_News/BH/Saturday/Mutakhir/20100102163958/Article
    Kebenaran penggunaan kalimah Allah perlu diiringi syarat ketat: Dr Mahathir
    KUALA TERENGGANU: Bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad berpendapat keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur membenarkan akhbar mingguan Gereja Katholik menggunakan kalimah Allah dalam penerbitannya perlu diiringi syarat yang ketat.
    Beliau berkata walau apapun alasan yang diberi sebagai justifikasi keputusan berkenaan, ia tetap menimbulkan kemarahan umat Islam di negara ini.
    “Ini kerana terjemahan ”God” yang diguna dalam agama lain dalam bahasa Melayu atau Arab ialah ”Tuhan”, bukan Allah.
    “Allah spesifik Tuhan bagi orang Islam. Kalau mereka faham mereka akan guna perkataan Tuhan, bukan Allah.
    “Saya akui kalimah Allah diguna di Sabah dan Sarawak sebelum mereka masuk (bergabung) dalam Malaysia…tapi di Semenanjung ni kita tak pernah dengar pula,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas menyampaikan ucaptama pada Konvensyen Mahasiswa Melayu di Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) hari ini.
    Beliau berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur pada Khamis lepas yang membenarkan akhbar mingguan Herald-The Catolic Weekly menggunakan perkataan “Allah”.
    Pada 16 Februari tahun lalu, Ketua Paderi Roman Katolik Kuala Lumpur Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam, sebagai penerbit majalah itu, memfailkan permohonan untuk semakan kehakiman bagi menuntut satu deklarasi bahawa keputusan Menteri Dalam Negeri melarang beliau menggunakan perkataan “Allah” dalam majalah itu adalah haram dan perkataan itu bukan eksklusif bagi agama Islam.
    Dr Mahathir berkata sensitiviti umat Islam perlu dipertimbang oleh bukan Islam, sebagaimana umat Islam di negara ini menjaga sensitiviti penganut agama lain bagi mengekalkan keharmonian negara.
    “Yang saya khuatir bila Allah diguna oleh mereka, mungkin mereka akan guna secara yang akan timbulkan perasaan marah di kalangan orang Islam, kalau buat sepanduk dan tulis sesuatu yang tak cerminkan agama Islam.
    “Kalau mereka nak gunakan (kalimah) Allah, ia harus dikenakan syarat yang ketat,” katanya yang menyerahkan kepada pihak bertanggungjawab untuk mengambil tindakan yang perlu bagi menyelesaikan kemelut itu. – Bernama

  44. Good suggestion indeed but it would be better and a brilliant ideas if the Education Ministry could recruits a great numbers of Chinese language proficient teachers to start teaching ALL non-Chinese pupils the chinese languages commencing from year one of schooling till standard 6.Don’t enforce it as compulsory but it is enough that we let them choose on a voluntarily basis.I am very confidence that a lot of parents will be willing to undertake this challenges.
    Indirectly,we are moulding our nation to be as 1Malaysia just like what is glorified personally by our PM Dato Najib.

  45. Tun,
    Dulu masa anak-anak saya sekolah rendah, tertulis pada Senarai Buku Sekolah – Abacus. Saya beli kerana ingatkan ia akan digunakan sebahagian dari subjek Matematik. Beberapa bulan kemudian anak-anak saya kata ABACUS ini tidak akan digunakan. Begitulah bila ada usaha dari satu pihak untuk meningkatkan pembelajaran anak-anak kita, pasti ada satu pihak lain yg menggagalkannya. Sama ada kerana sengaja atau tak sengaja atau teknikal atau kurang guru atau guru tak tahu atau … macam-macam lagi sebab.
    Kini ada teknik baru pula, secara ikhlas saya bertanya – adakah mungkin ia dilaksanakan ? atau akan jadi separuh jalan seperti Maths & Science in English ?
    BTW, anak-anak saya kini belajar di UDM, alhamdulillah.

  46. In The Name of ALLAH, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
    All praise be to ALLAH, Lord of the worlds, Creator of both man and jinn. Peace and blessings be upon the Prophet Muhammad, who was sent as a Mercy and a Guide to all creatures.
    EDUCATION
    Hello Tun,
    Since we are on the subject of education, I write this to attenuate most parent’s obsession with their kid’s academic results.
    A person’s academic qualifications is actually a measure of the person’s mental capacity. To a certain extent, a person is born with certain inherent potential, just as the person is born with certain physical attributes. (We come to this question, How much is nurture and how much is nature?)
    Wiki Human Brain.(The human brain has been estimated to contain 50

  47. Being good in mathematics, does it mean good PM material? Not necessarily. Anyway, it is just a conjecture. A mathematician can better juggle RM270billion in a useful way hopefully.
    In a different light Tun mentioned sometimes ago that Lim Guan Eng could be the PM of Malaysia. Nik Aziz forcibly stated that the MB post for Kelantan is fair game for non-Malays also. Thus RAHMAN.COM is coming.
    Prtial list of potentials for MB of Kelantan or .COM (Chinese of Muslim/Malaysia) could include:
    1. Datuk Dr Fadzli Cheah – Ipoh Chinese Muslim Association Chairman; Chairman of Chinese Muslim Mosque, Ipoh; pendakwah; top brain surgeon based at KPJ Specialist Centre, Ipoh; scanned my dizzying head using MRI (Magnetic Resonance Scanning) 1995 or thereabout and said that my brain is ok and I could still go ahead being a scientist; removed a blood clot my sister in-law’s brain as a result of stroke.
    2. Dr Ridhuan Tee Abdullah – lecturer at Defence University; pendakwah
    3. A qualified engineer convert, studied in Jordan (I did not get his name), pendakwah with TV programs internationally (seen once at Karachi)
    4. Prof Emeritus Kho Kay Kim – top historian of Malaysia, top academician UM; has indepth knowledge of Malay history,culture and physique better the Malays themselves (see partial list of publications below):
    Khoo Kay Kim. 1980. The Malay Peninsula: A social and economic survey. In Zainal Abidin A Wahid (ed) Glimpses of Malaysia History. DBP, K Lumpur pp90-6
    *1981. Taiping Ibukota Perak. Persatuan Muzium Malaysia, K Lumpur 36hlm
    *1967-8. Johor in the 19th century: A brief survey. J Hist Soc, Univ Malaya 4
    *1968. Traditional Malay polity: two preliminary case studies. Fed Mus J, ns XIII
    *1968/69. Before Pasir Salak. J Hist Soc, UM, K Lumpur VII:40-52
    *1969/70. Perubahan di Setengah Negeri-Negeri Melayu (1880an). J Hist Soc, UM, K Lumpur
    *1972. The Western Malay States 1850-1873: The Effects of Commercial Development on Malay Politics. Oxford Univ Press, K Lumpur
    *1974. Malay Society 1874-1920. JSEAS (Dept of Hist, Nat Univ Singapore) 5(2)
    *1975. The Orang Besar-Besar of Selangor. Malaysia in History XVIII(2):36-45
    *1976. Terengganu and Kelantan in the 19th century. Southeast Asian Studies Review (Gaya, India) 1(1)
    *1977-78. Tanah Melayu abad ke-18. J Sejarah UM XV:1-11
    *1979. Local historians and the writing of Mlaysian history in the twentieth century. In Reid A and Marr D (eds) Perceptions of the Past in Southeast Asia. Singapore
    *1980a. Nineteenth Malay Peninsula

  48. Salam Ayahanda Tun,
    Selamat Menyambut Tahun Baru 2010. Almost two weeks not in touch with your articles. A lot of reading to do. Salam

  49. Dear Tun
    My children and I are keen to learn Prof Xu Si Zhong’s method of using the abacus.
    Could you please enlighten us with his contact details.
    Thank you very much.
    HAPPY NEW YEAR TO TUN AND YOUR FAMILY.
    Best wishes
    A T MUTALIB, Hj
    Cellphone # 60-13-381 1991
    Email : [email protected]
    “The Camelot”
    2 Jalan P9B 1/5
    Precinct 9
    62250 WP Putrajaya.

  50. Salam TDM;
    I am interested to start this. How to contact those folks to get the ball rolling.
    Jakzallah…Wassalam.

  51. Salam Tun,
    1.I’m glad to read this article as this is the first time you dint shout to abolish Chinese school. I was really worried when i saw the title.
    2.When discussing about Mathematics, we are far behind compare to China and Singapore. You not yet seen those elite in calculation who can calculate numbers with a few decimal places in just a second.
    3.When I first attended Mathematics class in Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK), I laughed. Because the teacher is weaker than me.
    4.The Abacus system has exist in Malaysia since 20 years ago(even earlier I think), unfortunately, those tuition center established with Chinese Signboard.
    5.20 years ago Tun was PM. I wonder why Tun mentions about Chinese Mathematics only by now.
    6.Not only Chinese Mathematics, there are still a lot of advantages the Chinese education created. How about Chinese’s Bahasa Malaysia?
    7.I got higher marks compared to other students in class in Bahasa subject. The teacher was shocked. I told her, all this correct tatabahasa and sentence was taught by my Chinese school’s teacher.
    8.Our government had implemented a lot of good plans but the execution is really bad. The same thing would happens repeatedly. Eventually, Abacus system will becomes a race problem as many other issues in Malaysia.
    9.Who makes us far behind? Talking Abacus system as if just found new mainland is kind of “international joke”.
    10.Eliminate the good one to make yourself the winner is just making yourself “Kampung Champion”.

  52. Dear Tun
    1. Tok Mat has passed away. Lets recite Al-Fatihah for him. May ALLAHswt forgive all his sins and bless his soul
    2. A very Happy New Year 2010 to you and Dr. Hasmah and all your loved ones. May ALLAHswt grant you and family good health and happiness
    3. May I suggest that we meet up with Prof Xu Si Zhong, organise a roadshow and introduce the man, his method and his mathematics to the nation, especially the young ones
    4. Investing in the man is an important investment in the future of the country. It will be a step closer to achieving a high-value high-income knowledge-based economy that we aspire
    5. Although the Government plays an important role, lets try to leave them out and depend more on our own freewill, initiative … lets get together and get it done ourselves
    bangsaMSIA Inc

  53. Yet the best groundbreaking Mathematicians throughout history have always come from? No,not China but the West.
    So, this yet again a doctrinaire approach to education needs to be studied thoroughly before the Govt looks at any policy changes on how Maths sholud be taught.
    Sure, the abacus is a useful tool for early inroads in speed learning Arithmetics which is only the foundation to a broader Mathematics. But, as has been seen consistently proven (how many Chinese, in relation to a worldwide population of say 1.5 billion, have made advances in pure Maths and won Nobel prizes in theoretical Maths, Physics and theoretical sciences?)it is the more open education system that produces the innovative Newtons, Gauss’s, Eulers and Einsteins.
    We must learn to distinguish between a fast calculator and and a creative, thinking and innovative brain and how to get the best out of it!
    dpp
    We are all of 1 race, the Human Race

  54. salam perjuangan buat Tun yang dikasihi.
    Sangat setuju dengan cadangan Tun .
    Namun, di era akhir zaman ini, manusia semakin mengejar SQ berbanding IQ atau EQ,
    Apa pandangan Tun tentang Tulisan Jawi pula :
    Tun boleh baca pandangan saya yang tak seberapa di sini :
    1.”Dari rumi ke jawi- mengembalikan kecerdasan spiritual melayu yang hilang” :
    http://sangtawal.blogspot.com/2009/11/ckkaz-ii-bhg-5-dari-rumi-ke-jawi.html
    dan artikel – “mengangkat dan memertabatkan Tulisan jawi: pengorbanan terbesar bangsa jawi”, disini :
    http://sangtawal.blogspot.com/2009/12/ckkaz-ii-bhg-6-mengangkat-dan.html
    wassalam.

  55. Ayahanda Tun,
    1. Nama2 dan tarikh2 di 1 Malaysia pun belum “kow tim”, nak buat “abacus” in 1 Malaysia to replace latest version of Microsoft Excel, the Spread sheet programme for calculation of “+ – x /, the software programme set in PC, and Electronic Calculator?? Mana boleh Ayahanda Tun kerana “abacus” is manual/hand, and mongers2 pasar malam mana ada “extra” tangan to kira dgn abacus neh.., mereka dah bijak sangat dengan kiraan otak tanpa belajar “abacus….”, learned from our Malaysia National and Independent School System…, 4 (for) 52 years now,..
    2. Kalau “abacus” diambilkan sebagai activiti2 kokorikulum Sekolah2 kita selepas masa tamat harian sekolah, boleh lah, macam indoor activities like playing Congkak, Chinese Chess, Monopoly, Scrabble, Chess etc….
    3. Saya suka main Mahjong, takkan lah because saya suka, MOE kita implement teaching class of Mahjong playing in private kindergarten and standard 1, which also can stimulate our arimithics (mental calculation). Aku kini boleh main mahjong secara online dengan insan di seluruh dunia….
    4. Like we say, if you are good in humanitarian courses… of Islam, Arts, Economics, BM, Mother Tongue Language, English, Laws, Business Management, psychology, sociology, foreign languages, political science etc….., even if you let them learn “abacus”, mahjong HK, Taiwan or Malaysia….they will never be good in Science and Mathematics due to biological factors…. (2 finger Up the Sky)..
    5. Our Government had Flip & Flop since 2004, is our 1 Government want 2nd wave of “Flip 5 F1op 1” ke…… Rakyat dah MUAK dgn sikap2 pemimpin2 pada masa PM 5 kita kerana RASUAH, tak cukup ke???
    6 PM tak boleh pakai “National” – Flip & Flop PM 5 “Attitude” to attract FDI and 2nd Home owners with RM2 juta into 1 Malaysia….. mana ada orang2 akan percaya 1 Malaysia di hari kemudian….
    7. Pandai2 Lah, fikir2 masak2 sebelum “jump into conclusion”, jangan hanya dengar ..Hear & Say…..dari 1 saudara mara, abg2, adik2, kakak2…. kalu 1 Rakyat Malaysia didahulukan supaya negara kita maju dan makmur pada masa yang akan datang….”Greener Earth” for our next generation to come maybe year before year 5010….
    8. Kalau PM Malaysia salah langkah, siapakah yang bertanggungjawab???? Israel, Yahudi, George W. Bush Mr Barrack Obama, Mr Hu, Mr Wen, India’s PM Manmohan, Tibet or Nepal, UAE or Dubai????
    9. Demi kemakmuran negara kita, kita mesti patuh 5 Rukun2 Negara kita supaya semua yang telah berlaku boleh disusun balikkan bermula pada saat ini untuk Wawasan 2020, takkan lah kita melompat kepada Wasasan 5010 iaitu pada tahun 5010, 3,010 tahun dari sekarang…. Mana Boleh

  56. SALAM BUAT TUN BERDUA MOGA DIRAHMATI ALLAH S.W.T.
    1) SEBENARNYA PADA MASA TUN LAGI PERLU DIPERKENALKAN KAEDAH INI, MUNGKIN KETIKA ITU PENGENALANNYA SECARA TEORI TIADA LAGI DI SEDIAKAN KAEDAH DALAM RANGKA KERTAS KERJA PERLAKSANAAN PROGRAM ITU.
    2) SEBAB RIMBA EMAS KATA BEGITU KERANA PERINGKAT AWAL PERSEKOLAHAN IAITU TAHUN SATU SEHINGGA TAHUN ENAM KEMENTERIAN TELAH MENETAPKAN TIADA PENGGUNAAN MESIN KIRA MODEN DALAM MENJAWAB SOALAN MATEMETIK.
    3) GOLONGAN PENIAGA CHINA SENDIRI KINI DIDAPATI MENGUNAKAN MESIN KALKULATOR MENGIRA HARGA BARANGAN JIKA KE KEDAI MEREKA, INIKAN PULA KANAK-KANAK KECIL DI BIAR MENGIRA IKUT DAN (BAHASA UTARA).
    4) INI MENUNJUKKAN KANAK-KANAK ALIRAN RENDAH KEBANGSAAN (BUKAN SEKOLAH CINA) TELAH KETINGGALAN DARI RAKYAT BERBANGSA CINA.ATAS DASAR APA SEBENARNYA KANAK-KANAK INI TIDAK DIBENAR MENGGUNA KALKULATOR TAMPA DIBERI PULA KAEDAH MENGANTIKAN SATU CARA YANG MENYAMAINYA.
    5) LEBIH BAIK KANAK-KANAK INI DIBENARKAN MANGGUNAKAN KALKULATOR AWAL-AWAL LAGI SEPERTI MANA PENIAGA-PENIAGA CINA SEKARANG YANG MENGGUNAKAN KALKULATOR DENGAN LEBIH PANTAS SEBAB TELAH DI BERI ASAS CARA LAIN YANG MENYAMAINYA.
    6) SEBALIKNYA KANAK-KANAK ALIRAN INTERGRASI KEBANGSAAN SEBENARNYA MULA BELAJAR MATEMATIK PADA TINGKATAN SATU.
    7) MAAF TUAN GURU SEBENARNYA YANG LEBIH ARIF, PENDAPAT RIMBA EMAS INI BOLEH DI TOLAK TEPI JIKA TERSILAP.
    WALLAHU’ALAM

  57. Salam Tun berdua dan pembaca budiman semua,
    1. Setelah agak lama menyepi, kini sikenit kembali.
    2. Salam Awal Muharam dan Tahun Baru 2010. Semoga semua pembaca chedet sihat dan bahagia.
    3. Malaysia masih indah dan aman, alhamdulillah. Semoga Malaysia tercinta terus berada dalam Rahmat dan Peliharaan Allah SWT.
    4. Tun, semoga tetap teguh dalam amalan, ikhlas dalam segala urusan- agar mendapat ganjaran berganda disisi ALlah SWT.
    5. Kemana pergi kekanda-kekanda JJJ, kamal ahmad, wajaperak, dan prof?
    Jaga diri jaga solat semua!!!
    sikenit.
    ps: untuk mahir dalam apa jua bidang, maths included, mesti rajin rajin dan rajin.

  58. Dr. M,
    I have to disagree. We don’t need to introduce abacus in our schools. We on the other hand need to introduce creativity into our academia. Why emulate the Chinese when Chinese are incapable of competing with Japanese, Koreans or Westerners? LKY once said Chinese are still far behind Japanese. Chinese are still weak in medicine and sciences.
    There’s no abacus in America. Americans are still wiping out Nobel Prizes and managing billion dollar businesses. Iran is another country that has beaten China in Math Olympiad and has produced students who outperformed Chinese students in Electrical engineering department at Stanford (Perhaps, you want to visit Sharif Institute of Technology in Tehran and see the results yourself, bear in mind Iranians as a nation has IQ of a mere 84, Malaysia has IQ of 92).
    There are mere 8 Chinese Nobel Laureates and many of them could only win the accolades because of America (if we consider Nobel Prize as the pinnacle of human achievement). I don’t see the need for abacus in schools in Malaysia. We need more room for creativity than anything else. In Malaysia, we tend to be seduced by the “smartness” of the Chinese even as Malay students topped the nation in the past few years. We still could not swallow the fact that perhaps it was not genetic (or the laziness of the native) that caused the Malays to be lagging behind but rather the milieu that has placed Malays a few step behind. This milieu has been changed by force and words. Nowadays, Malay students have no problems scoring A1s in Add Math or Physics.
    If your intention is to make Malaysians as whole and especially Malays to be good in Math and businesses, perhaps we need to implement Look West Policy. MBA is one way to guide Malays and Malaysians to be better business people.

  59. Tun yang dihormati:
    Definitely true !!!!
    1. Mathematics through the Chinese way… Setuju!!
    2. Science and Maths through the English way @ medium because it’s the universal language !! Bukak mata sikit Minister of Education !!!
    3. Sejarah through the Bahasa Melayu’s way… simply because Malaysians don’t learn sejarah very well. Even Singapore change their “sejarah books” so that their rakyat learn the wrong sejarah!! I happen to meet a few Singaporeans(students) a few years back. This was what we chat:
    Me: “Do you know that Singapore was once part of Malaysia?” I asked.
    S’pore student: “No la.., who says so?”
    Me: “Yes, it’s in the history books…”
    S’pore Student: “It’s written in our History books that Singapore was under the British, and we got our independence from the British Government !!”
    Me: “wo…is that so??, Wa..they can change History ah???
    You see… Kita kat Malaysia ni baik sangat. Tak tegas!!! Orang bising sikit.., ikut rakyat..orang bising sikit, ikut rakyat… Rakyat yang bising tu bukan golongan majority pun! Golongan lawyer-lawyer yang anti kerajaan sekarang!! Yang tu la yang pemimpin kita nak dengar.. Apa daa…
    Cuba dengar cakap rakyat yang progressive tu… Hm…pemimpin sekarang tak macam Tun la.. Tegas dan berwawasan..
    Have a good day, Tun…

  60. Assalamu alaikum Tun yang di sayangi!
    Satu lagi idea/buah fikiran Tun yang amat baik untuk kebahagian rakyat Malaysia. Mudah mudahan akan dapat didengar oleh pentadbiran yang ada sekarang.
    Saya do’akan agar usia Tun dipanjangkan lagi oleh Allah yang Maha Esa, agar buah fikiran Tun akan terus mengalir dan terus dapat dinikmati oleh rakyat Malaysia keseluruhan nya. Amin ya Rabbil Alamin.
    Arip

  61. salam tun..
    Berita Harian 2 Jan 2010
    Cari jalan kurangkan penggunaan gula
    PETALING JAYA: Kadar pengambilan gula yang tinggi oleh penduduk negara ini mendorong dua kementerian untuk mengadakan pertemuan dengan lebih 60 wakil industri makanan dan minuman bagi membincangkan kaedah terbaik meminimumkan kandungan gula dalam penghasilan produk.
    Perbincangan yang dijangka berlangsung pada 12 Januari ini membabitkan Kementerian Kesihatan dan Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Koperasi dan Kepenggunaan. Antara wakil industri yang dijangka hadir ialah pengeluar minuman termasuk minuman berkarbonat, biskut, roti dan kuih.
    Timbalan Menterinya, Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin, berkata ia bertujuan menggalakkan penyertaan bersama pihak industri dalam menjayakan kempen mengurangkan gula.
    Beliau berkata, penduduk negara ini dikategorikan sebagai pengguna tegar dengan pengambilan gula sebanyak 26 sudu teh sehari berbanding kadar yang disyorkan iaitu tujuh sudu teh.
    Di samping itu, katanya kenaikan harga gula 20 sen sekilogram berkuat kuasa semalam perlu dilihat sebagai langkah positif untuk membantu mengurangkan pengambilan gula secara berperingkat.

  62. There is a single but fatal flaw to this proposition of yours. Mathematics neither invented by the Arabs or the Chinese is a science of reasoning and logic. It is a language of its own and a very powerful one at that that transcends borders and cultures.
    Fast calculations do not produce anything but fast results. Not fast answers. There is a vital difference between the two. You can teach anyone to count, but teaching them critical thought, reasoning or logic (a branch of mathematics) is not as easy. And neither the abacus nor the electronic computer can resolve that issue.
    These tools are but mere facilitators. Shakunthala Devi beat the PC in calculating some of the most complex mathematical problems. Logic over facilitator. She remains on the Guiness World Book of Records as being the fastest. But can she cook an ommlette? well I do not know. And fast maths results cannot cure that defect if thats the case.
    In any event I must say that it is a first step in the right direction to introduce a facilitator that is not the modern day calculator which has has seen retrograde results in the ability of the current generation of students to think and to calculate mentally.
    If the Greeks or the Arabs had actually invented mathematics (which they themselves now acknowledge the Indians did) then their children today would be dominant in the field which they are not.
    Its genetic and one cannot deny that.
    Malaysian’s excel everywhere they go as nerds and rote learners. Study by heart and score great results. Yet like the legal profession in Malaysia, inspite of their prestigous degrees, many find interpreting or understanding the law difficult as evidenced in their work and their performance in more competitive environments.
    What we need in Malaysia is a wholesome education. Reasoning and logic a first pre requisite. Instead we still have insults and punishments for those who cannot understand as easily and humiliation of those who do not make high scores.
    These are but mere examples of a theoretical education or an academic orientation. Not a real education.
    As an elder statesman you have the capacity to influence change. And with an open mind being detatched from all other considerations you must. You will leave a far greater legacy behind to Malaysia and to mankind if you did. But do it with an open mind.
    Happy New Year 2010 and may God grant you life for another decade at least.
    Gopal Raj Kumar

  63. Assalamualaikum
    Yang Berbahagia Tun Dr. Mahathir,
    Para Blogger yang dihormati
    Dear Tun,
    Allow me to continue writing on the importance of mathematics as the highest form of knowledge.
    Mathematics is a language to uncover the secret of life. Of course not everyone can be conversant using this language. But many of the

  64. Salam Tun.. Saya baru aje terfikir nak berhentikan kelas abacus anak saya yang berumur 10 thn sbb selalu aje terlupa nak pergi.Bayarannya pula RM 90 sebulan. Tapi setelah saya baca artikel ni…x jadi berenti lah kot…Memang saya nampak keberkesanan method penggunaan abacus ni yang menjurus kpd mental arithmetics. Kalu depa dah expert nanti boleh la buka kedai roti ka….dobi ka…Acha heh bhai Sahab khuda hafees. salaam.

  65. Assalamualaikum
    Yang Berbahagia Tun Dr. Mahathir,
    Para Blogger yang dihormati
    Happy New Year 2010 to All
    Happy Christmas (to fellow Christians)
    Selamat Menyambut Maal Hijrah kepada Muslimin dan Muslimat
    Dear Tun,
    I am glad you bring up this topic on the importance of mathematics and counting. Of course the Chinese people are blessed with their ability to count almost naturally, even amongst those uneducated ones. Hence, in Malaysia they perform better in commerce and business compare to other races.
    The suggestion to use the technique by this good Prof. Zhong on counting should be examined seriously by the Education Ministry. Or as you have said, individual tuition center or tadika can take the initiative to explore using the technique on their students.
    I would like to add further that counting is a subset of mathematics. In the traditional commercial world, the ability to count fast is very important but mathematical field is wider than just counting, and involves abstraction using numbers and abstract rules (for examples algebra, geometry and calculus) which are important traditionally in science and engineering, but now becoming important also in economy and accounting. Hence to compete internationally (even in commerce), you need to have a good grip of mathematic beyond the use of simple abacus.
    Therefore, I urge the government to strengthen on the overall further understanding on mathematics amongst our students across the board at all levels, no just at pre-school. Make mathematics a compulsory subject for science and engineering based students for two years at the undergraduate level. Encourage the art base students to take mathematics. Mathematical subjects are like

  66. Salam Sejahtera Yang Berbahagia TUN DR.MAHATHIR MOHAMAD,
    Way back during your Premiership, not so long ago. This abacus kinda thing was already implemented by the Ministry concern. It was broad-casted by RTM. It musta be TV Pendidikan and the Primary school pupils are the target, if I’m not mistaken.
    When the programme’s are aired and usually during the morning hours.I will always tried to spend some times just to follow the Abacus, for primary kids stuff. And I did gained something rather than “zero” from earlier on.
    I was at the age somewhere early `40’s…and I do really learned..!! But later on , some how or rather they switched it to Astro satellite channels. From there on …contact loss.!!
    As it is until to this very day , I have no idea either it is still around or they might have convert/traded the abacus beads to rosary beads. ‘Cos by now they musta be ‘good’ in counting wise..!!
    The Don B.Jeles of RA-bt2 1/2,X’s-rd Tpg.

  67. Salam Tun Mahathir. I don’t know much about Abacus, but, a friend’s son did learn it and his math improved a lot. There is some wisdom to ask the present policy makers in the education ministry to implement the professor’s newly improved method.

  68. Dear Tun,
    The free MyTuition centre in Kampung Kerunchi started its first CMA abacus and mental arithmetic class three weeks ago with 30 wide-eyed young kids not knowing what to expect. On the second day some kids came at 9.30am even though classes were to start at 10.30am while some more kids turned up hoping to get places.Still more came even on the third day.Yes, they will get their chance soon.
    By the end of the first week the kids could handle the abacus and some had finished their first workbook.No limit was set on their pace even though some surged ahead while the slower ones were guided and encouraged.
    Instructions were in English but the kids had no problems whatsoever. In fact they were soon reciting Napoleon Hill’s Philosophy of Success!
    By the end of the second week the kids received their individual passwords to go online to do their homework where they are able to challenge their friends who also do the CMA program in Australia, China, Nigeria, Sudan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China,India and others. Daily, weekly and monthly rankings are listed to show and encourage the most competative kids. Our MyTuition kids did not disappoint.One student ranked 13th in the world rankings within three days of getting his password.
    Yes, Tun, the abacus is helping the underprivileged kids from Kampung Kerinchi. In fact one kid asked why the class did not start on the first day of the holidays!

  69. tun
    anak saya dah darjah 5 pada hari ahad ini.set abacus saya kena beli waktu dia mula masuk darjah satu pada 2006 dulu.ada lagi saya simpan,tak pernah diguna pun ketika di sekolah.itu kira perkara wajib beli untuk pembelajaran.harga rm 8 kalau tak silap.berapa jumlah murid seluruh negara yang masuk darjah satu waktu itu tak tahulah.sekolah tempat anak saya ada hampir 80 orang.sekolah luar bandar saja.bolehlah kira berapa banyak rm mak bapak hangus oleh seorang menteri yang buta kayu.
    saya percaya menteri2 tarak masa nak baca komen orang ramai.sibuk dgn agenda fulus dan fulus.tun sahaja yang mampu berbuat sesuatu dalam tajuk ini dan yang lain2.
    saya rasa setakat ini tak memberi bekas pun pada kerajaan sekarang segala cadangan dari Tun dan pembaca di sini walaupun komen/cadangan sangat positif dan perlu tindakan.
    cadangan seterusnya dari saya ialah Tun mulalah kembali dalam politik untuk membetulkan kepincangan serta kerosakan yang terlalu-lalu sekarang ini.pada saya tidak ada yang boleh rakyat harap kepada majoriti menteri2 yang ketika ini bersenang-senang dan relax saja.dengan cara ini saja dapat meredakan kegelisahan dan kebingungan orang ramai terutama orang melayu dalam era pemerintahan la ni.melayu mudah lupa.itulah mereka yang sekarang ni sedang megah dengan kuasa.lupa kepada Pemberi nikmat dan pemangkah2 undi yang menaruh harapan keadaan akan bertambah baik.

  70. Happy New Year Tun 🙂
    This is the first time I read your blog, after watching your biography on History channel. I think you’re a pretty cool guy and I hope I can make your day by saying a big thank you for all the contributions you make. I am proud to say that I am a product of your works.
    I am a chinese girl brought up in Penang, and I have been fully chinese educated. My parents sent me to a maths tutoring when I was in primary school. They taught us mind calculation techniques with the use of fingers and memorization of formulas which are easy to memorize if you do it in chinese. Abacus comes in after we move into level 3 (if my memory serves me right).
    I am a uni student right now and stopped practising this skill for years so I can’t say that I can do the fancy multiplication and division anymore. But there is one thing that I can proudly confess, my finger calculation is still faster than my boss’s calculator at the restaurant that I work part time in New Zealand. Haha.
    Thanks again for being such a great leader 🙂 You really made a difference in my life.

  71. Dear Tun Dr M,
    The Chinese Mathematics,even Indian Mathematics for that matter, merely require and encourage the students to master maths through memory. This approach do not make the students intelligent but merely memory addicts.It is better for them to learn maths the proper way i.e. logical and analytical method.

  72. Assalamualaikum Tun,
    Happy New Year to you and family! I am interested to know more about Prof Xu’s method. Please let me know how to contact him. Thanks so much.

  73. Salam tun,
    Saya merupakan guru matematik di sekolah rendah. Saya juga merupakan graduan matematik di IPTA.Saya pernah memikirkan matematik ini menjadi lebih mudah jika dipelajari dengan menggunakan abacus. Sayangnya,tipikal masyarakat melayu, penerimaan abacus amat sukar. Apa yang terjadi di sekolah sebenarnya mudah sahaja. Abacus gagal adalah kerana pelaksananya tidak mahir iaitu guru-guru.Segala telah disediakan tetapi guru-guru tidak dilatih dengan cukup agar mahir sepenuhnya dengan abacus.Akhirnya,terkubur begitu sahaja. Saya hanya diberi modul dan perlu belajar dengan sendiri. Memanglah boleh, tetapi bukankah lebih baik diadakan kursus secara intensif kepada guru-guru agar mahir menggunakan abacus. Atau adakah program abacus mempunyai kepentingan lain?Sudahlah guru-guru dibebani dengan pelbagai kerja pengkeranian yang tidak sudah-sudah,pengajaran kami pula,seperti menangguk di air keruh.Kenapa kerajaan sanggup berabis berjuta-juta dalam ppsmi, kenapa tidak dalam abacus?dukacita saya lihat abacus tersimpan rapi di dalam kotak. Saya pernah cuba untuk mempelajari dan seterusnya mempraktikkannya dalam kelas, tetapi agak sukar jika tidak mempelajarinya secara ‘hand’s on’.Harapan saya, agar program abacus ini menjadi keutamaan kpm selepas ini.

  74. Salam Tun,
    Saya tidak bersetuju utk diajar konsep ini di sekolah. Kebaikannya hanya Pelajar mungkin cepat mengira dgn menggunakan tangan atau shortcut mendapat jawapan. Prof. saya pernah menolak & failed kan seorang pelajar cina di sekolah saya (di US) kerana pelajar tersebut tidak dapat menunjukkan cara/jalan pengiraan. Pelajar ini terus menulis jawapan. Ada few yg mengira begini dan dikira peniru. Kertas exam mereka dirampas & mereka dihalau keluar dari kelas.
    Ya betul, kita boleh claim mereka meniru kerana jawapan pelajar ini semuanya sama tanpa menunjukkan cara pengiraannya. Masalah ini menjadi ketara bila soalan exam mathematics/finance adalah subjektif & bukan objektif (A,B,C….)
    Cuma pelajar2 melayu & india & punjabi yg lulus kerana mereka ini semua belajar secara sistematik di sekolah2 kerajaan.
    Cara pengiraan ini boleh di praktik jika kita pergi membeli-belah atau kepada peniaga pasar malam yg perlukan pengiraan pantas dlm perniagaan mereka.
    Sekian.

  75. As silvervillage point out that the Chinese number is a binary format, similiar to Bahasa Malayu, there is a rythm in the Chinese numbering system which can be imprint into the brain through practise. Numbering in the chinese mind is similiar to alphabet of an english spelling once it is mastered.
    The Chinese not only have a superior numbering system , they also have a long history of phyloshophy and wisdom. But if you look what acually happens to it was because it was destroy by communism . Only Taiwan has retain a fair share of the phyloshophy and culture.
    In fact the irony of all is that the biggest inheritance of this outside Taiwan is Malaysia and Indonesia. China is not Chinese anymore after Mao Tze Tung.
    In Indonesia President Suharto purge the chinese culture and the long inheritance and only widely practise in Malaysia and to some extend in Singapore. Unfortunatley many see the Chinese culture as chauvinistic and self centred. This is very true to which it brought about communism into China. A cultural revolution that destroy the very roots of the culture.
    Every Race and Religion have its beautiful side, and it is only self denial and refusal to comprehend others that serve as the hood to once foresight.

  76. I didn’t really want to leave a comment until i read amin tan’s jibe about gambling being a chinese culture and that is was the base for the chinese proficiency in math. Only one word i have for his comment..STUPID. The type of culture that drives the chinese to be so much better? It’s called independance. Independance of government help..actually its the lack of.
    Why was the use of the ABACUS not continued? That question in itself will lead to many many other questions.
    Let’s be honest about it. The main reason why many good policies have not been put in effect or discontinued was because they weren’t seen as of “Malay origin” or not Malay enough. I dare anyone to refute this fact. Just look at the problem of PPSMI. Malays can’t see past their noses. They have had the government crutch for way too long. Most will not survive on an even fighting ground. Do not agree?
    The other races have had to fight and claw their way through school while the bumis just sit back and enjoy the ride. This has given the chinese and indians especially, a more powerful drive to succeed. They know they will literally eat sand if they don’t study smart and hard.
    The plain fact is this. Most malay students are way below par. Anyone needs proof of this, I offer to take you on a tour of the malay schools in the Penang and Butterworth area. I am very familiar with the students and teachers there as my work takes me often.
    The problem is not in race or religion, you idiots. It’s in our education system. Stupid politicians have screwed up the system and many of you have followed blindly. Don’t spew your religious nonsense here when you cannot even open up your minds enough to know that the future of our children, their education and their success in life have been compromised by a system which benefits others politically.
    Education has nothing to do with race or religion.
    And finally, dearest Tun. You can still do something about all this. As you love Malaysia and all it’s children, shouldn’t you get people to move on this? You speak as if you are retired and have no clout. But your words will still move people.

  77. Salam Tun.
    Alangkah baiknya jika mana-mana tadika memperkenalkan kaedah ini. Boleh jadi penambahbaik kepada sistem pengajaran sedia`ada.
    Seperkara lagi, rasanya jawatan Menteri Pelajaran yang cukup berat ini tidak sepatutnya dipikul oleh seorang TPM. Lebih baik diberikan kepada individu lain yang boleh memberikan lebih tumpuan dan perhatian secara sepenuh masa. Terlalu banyak isu dan permasalahan yang sedang membelengu MOE.

  78. Pesanan Rasullulah S.A.W
    Tuntutlah Ilmu hingga ke negeri Cina.
    Tun is a rational man.
    I agree of his suggestion to learn abacus.
    Ministry of Education must not consider.
    They should implement it as a compulsory subject.
    Likewise learning English in most is necessary.We did not neglect our mother tongue by doing so.
    Nothing much we can learn from the Malay,perhaps Bomohism
    that proves nothing,yet is the basic cause of the Malay failure.
    Honestly being a Malay myself,I still don,t know what to look up for from my community.Maybe to be contented in life is quite true.
    I have to add this,Tun is not a racists nor
    He is an anti Westerner,or America,it,s basically of their doings is very wrong that needs a brave men like Tun to speak up.
    He is retired,He gains nothing of what He is doing now,
    yet He pursue of upholding rights.I believes he is well sufficient.
    A man got to do what a men need to do.

  79. Salam Tun Mahathir
    Thanks for the information on Chinese Mathematics. I would be much obliged if Tun can connect me to Prof Xu Si Zhong at [email protected].
    And I hereby express my greatest appeciation on Tun’s evergreen effort in finding ways to continuously improve the human well being through knowledge.
    Hope Tun and family is always bless with good health and spirit.
    Salam

  80. Salam bahagia Tun,
    Tun ada menyaran sedikit berkenaan dengan private Kindergarten mengajar maths secara abacus china. Jepun juga menggunakan abacus.
    Tetapi sekarang lebih mudah dengan electronic calculator.
    Oleh sebab Tun menulis sedikit mengenai KINDERGARTEN atau bahasa Melayunya Taman Kanak-Kanak, saya ingin memohon jasa baik Tun mengkaji sistem KINDERGARTEN yang dipelapori oleh Jerman.Saya belajar di Jerman di bawah stupedium German Foundation. Saya merasa kagum melihat budak-budak Jerman yang berumur 3 – 5 tahun amat pintar dan cerdek di bawah sistem Kindergarten Jerman.
    Di negara kita sekarang ini tedapat berbagai-bagai sistem “Kindergarten”. Taska…Taski dan tidak kurang pula sistem Franchise dari berbagai-bagai sumber. Sekarang ini terdapat pula Permata yang dipelapor oleh Puan Sri Rosmah.
    Saya harap dapat merekomen satu sistem Taman Kanam-Kanak ( Kindergarten) saperti yang dilakukan oleh Jerman untuk kepentingan anak dan cucit kita
    Danke Tun

  81. Tun,
    Appreciate your comment on the way Chinese learn. But we need your comment and guidance about the recent court judgement about Christian using the word ALLAH.
    Lately, our patience being a Malay and Muslim is being tested.

  82. salam tun…
    sekadar berkongsi..
    mungkin tun lebih tahu..
    dipeti dari harian metro 1 januari 2010..
    “Harga gula naik 20 sen
    PUTRAJAYA: Berkuat kuasa hari ini, harga runcit gula di Semenanjung dinaikkan sebanyak 20 sen daripada RM1.45 kepada RM1.65 sekilogram (kg) manakala di Sabah dan Sarawak kepada RM1.75 berikutan peningkatan harga gula mentah di pasaran dunia.
    Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Koperasi dan Kepenggunaan, Datuk Mohd Zain Mohd Dom, berkata langkah itu bagi mengurangkan kenaikan tanggungan subsidi gula yang terlalu tinggi oleh kerajaan.
    Beliau berkata, kenaikan harga gula mentah dunia menyebabkan kos pengilang tempatan termasuk kos pemprosesan, pengedaran dan margin keuntungan pihak pengilang meningkat dengan anggaran RM1 sekilogram berbanding 60 sen sekilogram awal tahun ini.

  83. Dearest Tun,
    I’m sure you agree to the methods of teaching in chinese schools are for better than the kebangsaan schools, especially mathematics and there’s no two ways about it! We knew of this issue a long way back but those “policy makers” refused to accept the fact. Reason? Why the Chinese way? They can’t be more superior than “us”! Result? We will never move forward! Period!
    Anyway, hope that your valuable suggestions will be heeded and changes would be made. Have a great year ahead sir!

  84. No talk about religions, politics and races, somehow peaceful I feel.
    Abacus? Calculator is fine with me.
    But for the kids, better listen to Tun.
    Best regards
    NM

  85. Dear YABhg Tun,
    I wonder why there are still many out there that are critical about you. I think they are intimidated by your wisdom and it is getting to be very true that “common sense is not common any longer”
    Our great Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) preached the followers to seek knowledge yonder to the Chinese countries.
    What have we done about it? Yes we…the many individuals.
    I await your abundance of wisdom, sir,

  86. Matematik bukan sekadar 1+2, 5-3, 2X3, atau 10-2. Ia adalah segala galanya berkaitan dengan angka. Untuk mendapatkan kecekapan yang diperlukan, seseorang itu perlu belajar seawal usia 5 tahun, dengan penuh disiplin dan ketekunan. Memahirkan diri dengan matematik memerlukan seseorang itu mempunyai imaginasi yang tinggi, kesabaran, ketabahan dan semangat juang yang tiada surutnya. Kalau tak rajin, boleh jalan daaa………

  87. Dear Tun,
    I acknowledge other Mathematic teaching by lots of private set ups all over Malaysia. I’d seen how my friend’s daughter answer some difficult Maths questions by heart (in Chinese they call it “by-heart calculation”). But somehow I feel that these children are beoming more like a “human calculator” rather than Math genius.
    Most importantly students shall be taught the basic fundamental of Maths. I’d seen how Msian students fair as compared to Chinese national students in Spore during my university time. The Chinese basic knowledge of Maths are extremely outstanding. We can’t even compare ourselves to Sporean. During our time in Form Six, we just learnt how to solve problems without understand the basic principles of eg. differentiation, integration, etc etc.
    I think there are lots need to be done by the Ministry to bring our Maths level on par with other countries.
    Happy New Year Tun.

  88. Banyak lalang di sini. Buat masa ini (hingga hari ini). MCA & Gerakan guna Abacus kira wang project & wang rasuah yang di terima. DAP pula guna Abacus kira wang untuk kebajikan rakyak. Esok saya tak tau lah.

  89. assalamualaikum tun,
    i think i’m wr0ng ab0ut the malays would not easily accept changes..
    now i think that if it is a g00d thing, then the malays can accept it..
    at number 9 in y0ur p0st, y0u said interest primary sch00l..??
    arrgh..!! i’m sec0ndary n0w but i really wanna learn math in a new different way..
    can u help me tun..??
    an0ther thing is, let say if my primary school is interested in having abacus class, h0w can we c0ntact pr0f xu si zhong..??
    but tun, the main p0int here is ‘0PP0RTUNITY’….!!!!
    i d0n’t think that the student that studies far away fr0m KL will get this 0pp0rtunity..
    the 0nly p0ssible way are..-
    1- the g0vernment accept y0ur idea and then the wh0le malaysia can have the 0pp0rtunity..
    2- y0u take the next step in d0ing the classes..
    3- pr0f xu si zhong is really king and willing to give the f0rmula t0 the teachers that teaches far away fr0m KL..

  90. A’kum Ayahanda Tun.
    Moga senantiasa dipelihara oleh Allah.
    AKADEMIK di M’sia SEPATUTNYA tidak perlu dicampur adukkan dengan POLITIK.
    Sepatutnya benda atau kaedah pembelajaran yang baik tidak harus diabaikan demi untuk rakyat kita juga.
    Mungkin ‘PROPOSAL’ ini…….’MASYUKnya kureng’…..so…biar ajalah. Gunalah silibus yg sediada untuk anak-nak tadika……JIMAT SIKIT kan!!!
    TAPI…..Kalu ‘MASYUKnya KENCANG’!!!!!……
    Bak kata Pak Nabil…..LU PIKIRLA SENDIRI!!!!

  91. assalamualaikum tun,
    it’s a very g00d idea ab0ut using the abacus meth0d in schools..
    chinese are very g00d in math and it’s n0t wr0ng if the malays learn fr0m them but i think the malays w0uldn’t accept this easily..
    only th0se wh0 think and well-educated will understand..
    that is the pr0blem 0f melayu..!!!
    an0ther pr0blem is the g0vernment..
    in malaysia, we all can freely sp0ken but i don’t think the g0vernment take n0tice of what the rakyat says n want..
    and i d0n’t think the g0vernment do their w0rks well..
    n0thing got different from years to years,..
    tun, i really h0pe u can d0 m0re t0 c0ntribute t0 the malays especially in educati0n..

  92. Maybe Tun can still make a suggestion to the Ministry of Education. We as the citizen should judge whether it should be applied into our curriculum.

  93. Just use the calculator.

    I’m not a sceptic. Yes I remember the last time the abacus was introduced in primary schools. This was one of your many flip flops. There’s no change. And you’ve certainly not changed. Still at it the old abacus again.

    If you’re so into counting, well count this! You were to be “Creme de la Creme”, instead you only ended up a Krem Cap Pekan Rabu. That’s massive deduction man.

    And why the hell are my comments being censored? what’s there to hide? what are you all afraid off? Are you so ashamed of being lesser to Jimmy Choo, Nicol David and Michelle Yeoh?

  94. Assalam alaikum
    YABhg. Tun Dr. Mahathir and all Chedet “Fellow.”
    Among the first, Happy 2010 Tun, May Allah SWT bless you and all of us.
    I fond about the Chinese mathematics system. Its quite simplicity and flexible in doing calculation. The technics sharpen our mental skill.
    I still remember during my primary school (circa 1990s), I bring chinese “calculator” – Sem Pua – If I not mistake the calling name, to school in order to used make calculation for basic mathematics test. All students include the school headmaster stare at me because of that things.
    The Chinese civilization is more advanced then us. It doesn’t mean that our civilazation is lagging far behind If compare to them. The first public examination is conduct by the Chinese civilazation, not the West civilization.
    During Look East policy implementation, Malaysia gradually on the corner of Malaysia Inc – emulated the Japan Inc. But we still has had not good enough in our basic needs to achieve advancement in technology.
    Science and math simply like king and queen. Science and technology need it. Doesn’t matter the system of math is applied as long as it put the calculation path to the correct.
    I read Joseph Stiglitz, The Roaring Nineties, about the excel and advance of Chinese, Korean, and Japan student in the U.S. if compare to the U.S. student. Of course, they use their own civilization method; e.g the chinese understand the numbers through their own way not borrow from others. These we can emulate.
    Since you away of the government, there were a lot of ignore of them on your advice. This for me is something sad. I do not know whether the current government want doing something with out your marks Tun. If I were the Prime Minister, there is no nothing wrong if you give notable advice for Malaysia own good in the future. We have more nine years before reaching Vision 2020.
    (With your permission)Oh ya Tun, I catch you point about open political debates before. I post it in my blog:
    Dalam satu temuramah media, mantan Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr. Mahathir menyarankan supaya debat politik secara terbuka dihentikan. Saranan ini nampaknya tepat pada masanya di mana politik Malaysia lebih terarah kepada destruktif, jauh daripada konstruktif. Debat politik secara terbuka walaupun pragmatik dari segi budaya berpolitik namun ia tidak pragmatik dari segi mencari jalan penyelesaian isu-isu politik nasional yang serba rumit dan kompleks.
    Pro
    Dari segi budaya berpolitik, debat politik secara terbuka boleh dijadikan pentas laluan kepada politikus-politikus nasional – politikus-politikus muda terutamanya – untuk mengasah bakat dan keupayaan berhujah dan berbahas secara jitu dan tuntas dihadapan khalayak rakyat. Di samping itu, pentas debat politik secara terbuka boleh dijadikan laluan untuk politikus-politikus nasional mengetengahkan isu-isu politik yang rapat dengan rakyat.
    Isu-isu politik yang diketengahkan – terutamanya isu-isu politik yang rapat dengan rakyat – sama ada secara jitu, tuntas, atau sebaliknya, pastinya memberi input pengetahuan persekitaran politik, di samping mengajak rakyat – terutamanya yang hendak menceburi bidang politik seperti komuniti mahasiswa – berfikir tentang isu-isu politik yang dibahas dan dihujah di pentas debat politik seara terbuka. Dari segi output pula tidak lain dan tidak bukan ialah rakyat tidak lagi “buta politik” dan “dieksploitasi” oleh politikus-politikus nasional yang menikus yang opportunist.
    Seterusnya, debat politik secara terbuka dapat mendidik dan mengajar rakyat untuk mengenal yang mana “kaca politik” dan yang mana “permata politik.” Kebolehkenalan rakyat terhadap kaca dan permata politik, seterunya dapat memberi jalan kepada rakyat dalam membuat keputusan politikal seperti memilih atau tidak parti politik kerajaan yang memerintah atau parti politik pembangkang atau tidak, atau tidak memilih kedua-duanya langsung pada pilihanraya yang akan datang atau yang seterusnya.
    Kontra
    Dari satu sisi, debat politik secara terbuka adalah tidak pragmatik di dalam mencari jalan penyelesaian isu-isu politik nasional yang serba kusut lagi kalut. Isu-isu politik yang dibahas dan dihujah melalui debat politik secara terbuka boleh “meracun” pemikiran dan gelagat pengikut dan penyokong fanatik yang taksub parti politik dan pemimpin parti politik; seandainya isu-isu politik yang dibahas dan dihujah itu cenderung kepada ajakan provokasi dan konfrontasi.
    Stratifikasi sosial di Malaysia terdiri daripada masyarakat majmuk; berbilang bangsa, agama dan kepercayaan. Isu politik yang dibahas dan dihujah di pentas debat politik secara terbuka seandainya menyentuh sensitiviti perkauman boleh mencetuskan kekacauan sosial sebagaimana kekacauan sosial yang berlaku pada 13 Mei 1969. Politikus-politikus nasional adakalanya dangkal, dungu, dan emosional apabila membahas dan menghujah isu-isu politik sehingga mencetuskan “panik” di kalangan pengikut, penyokong, dan rakyat.
    Oleh kerana rakyat Malaysia terdiri daripada masyarakat majmuk, isu-isu politik yang timbul sudah semestinya bersifat majmuk. Isu-isu politik yang bersifat majmuk memerlukan penyelesaian melalui kebijakan diplomasi dan rundingan secara meja bundar. Seandainya debat politik secar terbuka dijadikan sebagai jalan mencari penyelesaian isu-isu politik yang timbul, pada kebarangkalian debat politik secara terbuka perlu diadakan secara kerap sehingga boleh mengganggu produktiviti dan aktiviti ekonomi isi rumah / rakyat. Ini secara tidak langsung merencatkan pertumbuhan ekonomi domestik negara dalam jangka masa yang panjang di mana rakyat akhirnya mendapat kesan negatif ekonomi.
    Kebijakan – mengkritik dan menganalisis – adalah perlu
    Walaupun debat politik secara terbuka mempunyai pro dan kontra, sesuatu yang perlu disedari ialah kedua-duanya – pro dan kontra – sentiasa bersifat ceteris paribus dan sentiasa berada dalam keadaan equilibrium – bersandarkan hipotesis sosial-ekonomi-politik. Oleh yang demikian untuk membuktikan hipotesis – debat politik secara terbuka adalah langkah ke arah pragmatik – kebijakan adalah perlu. Kebijakan – mengkritik dan menganalisis – perlu ada pada kedua-dua pihak – politikus-politikus nasional dan rakyat. Seandainya kebijakan hanya bersifat sepihak – sama ada di pihak politikus-politikus nasional atau rakyat – maka tidak akan wujud imbangan kesefahaman di antara politikus-politikus nasional dan rakyat; terhadap isu-isu politik yang dibahas dan dihujah melalui debat politik secara terbuka.
    Wassalam Tun

  95. Good after Tun. Wishing you a healthy 2010 and seeking more of your ideas for the betterment of our country.

  96. Dear Tun,
    Wishing you and family a great 2010. Mang God bless all of you many more wonderful years to come.
    Wish to inform you Petronas’ print New Year ad today really made my day .
    It was one of the most profound ads I have ever come across. Please extend my congratulations to the team responsible for it.
    I hope Malaysians especially our numbskull politicians digest the message in it.
    Goes for this approach to mathematics as well,
    Best Regards and God bless.
    Love,
    Ataturk

  97. Ayahanda Tun,
    I have sent my 1st child to learn this abacus in private kindergarten school in the 1990’s, it was cancelled in less than 3 months due to no response (tak untung lah, cina bukan selalu untung ma)…and was replaced by music playing class..
    No Flip Flop.., Ayahanda Tun….to re-build trust among races, King and Kings (Ketuanan Melayu) because we have learned to “Berkhidmat Untuk Negara” for more than 5 years now because of Tun Lah’s Administration of which we cannot deny, and this slogan is similar to JFK’s phrase of “Do what you can for the country”, just like what the 4th Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad has done for the country for (4) 22 years:-
    In abacus:-
    1. 4 22= 4+22 = 26 atau 4 – 22 = – 18
    2. 4 22 = 4+2+2 = 8 atau 4 – 2 – 2 = 0
    In economics and business, these numbers 4 22 is the synergy effects for 1 Malaysia:-
    1. 4 + 2 2 = 1 Malaysia
    2. 4 22 = RM 1 PR “The PKR Anwar Ibrahim + Khalid Ibrahim + (2×5=10 counts, 12 ok)”, and rakyat bukan bodoh including Multi-International Corporations with history of 50 years…..
    In “Pak (8) Kua philosophy”:-
    8 represents 8 essentials for best utilisation of limited resources for better future world as 1 or One World…..
    The Americans have invested millions of dollars as research and development fund to merge (using synergy effect) US and Chinese philosophy as 1 to make 1 World 1 Better Climate for our future generations….
    1 Malaysia can only wins the heart from 1 Malaysians with full implementation of 1 Klinik, the best option to develop business and jobs at the “grass root” level to sustain our construction sector minus the “Ketuanan Dialet Cina – Hopo (Hakka)” to win votes.
    And PM Najib must realised that our Ex-President of MC Association YB Ong Ka Ting (Perak) lost to YB Ong Tee Kiat (Selangor) NOW. Ong TK and Ong KT bukan sama surname…
    YB Ong Ka Ting lost because he had “harrassed” our national pillar of No.5: Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan, and it’s GOD’s Will that he lost….due to inferiority complex and culture shock because he comes from a poor family. If the Ong Brothers merajuk, please tell them to fly kite lah because 1 Malaysians do not belong to Sinchew nor The Ong Brothers, as the Chinese says..Kaki 2 semut (Sinchew & Ong’s brother) cuba menahan 1 Gajah, dengan “No Potong” as 1st page Ad in Guang Min paper….on 1.1.2010, boleh ke??? In reality, Maxis is better than CELCOM/Potong.
    Every 1 in Malaysia knows TS Robert Phang of MACC’s Top Panel and YB Liow are “Hakka” from Pahang, and if they choose not to learn from Ong KT’s failure…MCA will be voted out…. PM Najib MUST CONTINUE 1 Klinik to dvelop jobs to sustain our construction sector…and MOE MUST NOT implement Kindergartens Kerajaan because 1 Malaysians like to send their children to private kindergartens that have full day baby sitting facility which are near to their homes… Furthermore, Sultan Pahang have invited guests from all races to His Royal Highness Istana in Pahang recently to get to know 1 Malaysians better for their future generations. PM Najib must get back Selangor kerana “cerai” baru terasa sayang terhadap bini ini to be fair to Pahang people to readjust water charge of RM0.30, boleh kan? Halalkan? Adilkan?
    MCA must change to MC Organisation to prove that they protect the Chinese rights, not their self-centered political agenda which rakyat have suffered to wollap our public funds….like Ahli2 Gongsi Gelap in 1913….
    Because of the Rigid and stupid Centralisation Authority of 43rd President of Republican Bush, People from the world hate Americans including Muslims and Chinese, and because of this, the aftermath is that 44th Barrack Obama took over Bush by utilising”De-Centralisation” Authorithy to prevent WW3 or climate disasters for better planet for our future generations through our Clause 4 MSC……..
    Hence, because of the “GongsiGelap-lisation” of UMNO/BN for 30 years, Malaysians are learning to De-GongsiGelap-lisation UMNO/BN(De = rid off) so that all races are truly accepted as 1 Malaysians under PM of Malaysia!
    Take care Ayahanda Tun.
    P/S: We made mistakes because we are human beings…. forgive, forget, re-learn the power of De-centralisation politically and economically for 1 Malaysia, and that’s life, Ha..ha..ha..
    P/S: Mr S..Tan, hang nampak gajah atau semut selepas baca komen aku???

  98. Happy New Year my Dearest Tun Dr.M
    I am amaze by the time at which you post this article. 0406H. When did you go to sleep?
    I once ride a taxi, driven by a Chinese. He told me how he could have made a lot of money, if not for the need to sleep. When ask if he is worry of being robbed, driving late at night or at wee hours, he said; The chances is like like winning a lottery.
    I gather you have high regards for Chinese skill in mathematics, promoting using abacus in Primary School to improve the lots of your community and indirectly all Malaysian, regardless of race. But sadly, the Malays, who are at the helm of Education Ministry, I think, would feel intimidated, implementing something not Arabic in school. How I wish that God should have bestowed Prophet Mohammad amongst us, other than the Arabs.
    You are not racist, after all.
    God Bless you Sir

  99. Salam Tun.
    Semoga sihat dan baik baik belaka. Kenapa nak cari kindergarden. Why not pass this to the program permata yang Rosmah buat tu. It will be good. Kalau kindergarden, hanya yang kaya sahaja dapat belajar benda ni. Hope you think about my suggestion, it will help kanak kanak yang kebanyakan, bukan hanya segelintir. After all, program permata gunakan duit rakyat serata.
    Thanks

  100. That the whole Truth but nothing but the Truth, but suprised you did recognized that chinese stuff & recommend it. Btw the way, ‘pat qua’ (fengshui compass) is the binary computer. Abacus is the calculator.

  101. Hello Dr. Mahathir…greetings. I am an avid reader of your blog. Some of the issues that you have highlighted need to be given immediate consideration. Hopefully the government looks into them. By the way, I would really be interested in getting to know this genius prof. for my kid. Although I have read about the use of ABACUS and its simplicity, time did not permit me to explore this man made marvell earlier. Hopefully, my kid can get to know it. Thanks and god bless you. Regards.

  102. Salam Tun, Selamat Tahun Baru.
    It is best to teach mathematics in Chinese School way.what else to use Prof Xu Si Zhong’s method. I remember, my son went to form two in government school came back and laughed. He said that the mathematics he learned right then has been taught when he was in standard five in Chinese school. Our education system should be revamp totally and follow Chinese system.We do not waste time to revamp school holidays and waste money to concentrate on Smart School- the idea of Rosmah. The system should begin while our generation still in kindergarten.This will save cost and more effective.
    I am not surprise when schools start the children can teach their teachers. So teachers must get prepared too.
    Besides, we all know that USA is under China in term of education and economy.
    Thank you

  103. salam tun…
    what a pity….
    sesorang yang berada diluar kerajaan seperti tun amat mengerti mengenai kepentingan pendidikan kepada anak anak malaysia…
    tetapi malangnya ia tidak diutamakan dalam kerajaan sekarang..
    ini kerana banyak budget untuk bahagian pendidikan telah dikurangkan atau ditiadakan dalam belanjawan terbaru..
    nampaknya kerajaan telah gagal dalam membantu rakyat tidak seperti zaman tun…
    ini kerana pada keadaan gawat sekarang sepatutnya kerajaan melebihkan belanja untuk rakyat….
    bukan berbelanja untuk meletakkan negara di mata dunia…
    rakyat tidak mahu hanya sekadar berbangga negara terkenal seantero dunia..
    tetapi kehidupan mereka di negara terkenal ini terhimpit dan tersepit..
    saya pun berbangga jika negara kita terkenal tetapi biarlah menepati slogan yang diwar-warkan rakyat didahulukan, pencapaian diutamakan…
    bantulah rakyat dahulu…
    kemudian letaklah negara di mata dunia..
    dari dasar kerajaan sekarang dah nampak macam pencapaian yang lebih penting dari rakyat..
    apa nak dikata kita hanya dapat bersuara dalam blog macam ini sahaja..
    sungguh malang apabila mp yang telah dipilih gagal membantu dan menegur kerajaan mengenai kesusahan yang dialami rakyat sekarang..
    kalau beginilah keadaan bn tunggulah pembalasan rakyat pada pru akan datang..
    hai nasib badan..
    ontah lah apo nak buek jang oiii…
    jaga diri tun

  104. hi, Tun Dr. Mahathir,
    I was agreed what you comment here.
    Chinese wish to good home educate before send to school.
    During my kids time, I was learn a lot of mathematical and number.
    I can see a lot different and now day kids also intelligent using mobile phone, so it is not reason to teach kids to understanding mathematics.
    What I know Tun Dr. Mahathir also experienced the same things during kids time, as I read yours story so I acknowledged it.
    I not good english, apology if got any grammar mistake.
    Hope in further malaysian people can also learn from chinese culture.
    Happy new year Tun Dr. Mahathir.

  105. Assalamulaikum Tun,
    Saya masih ingat, anak saya pun belajar abacus ketika itu..malangnya pengajaran abacus tidak bertahan lama di sekolah kebangsaan dan di hentikan.( die of natural death).kalau tidak ramailah murid pandai mathematics. Tidak pasti tetapi yang saya dengar pasal tidak ramai guru mahir dalam abacus dan ada juga saya denga kononya bijian abacus dijadikan tiga atau empat baris. alasan, alasan, alasan.
    Wallah hu a’lam..

  106. Tun,
    Inlah masalahnya apabila orang yang tak berpengajian tinggi menjaga pelajaran. Ego mereka membuatkan mereka tak akan faham Prof. Xu ini. Apalah mereka peddli masa depan anak-anak kita. Program permata atau slogan hanya retorik sahaja. Yang penting berapa keuntungan boleh dapat dari projek sekolah dan universiti.
    NC UITM Tan Sri Ibrahim Abu Shah yang briliant dan berjiwa akademik yang menaikkan orang melayu akhirnya tersungkur dan diganti oleh rival ketatnya. Sayang sekali kehilangan Tan Sri Ibrahim ni. Beliau paling sesuai menjadi menteri pengajian tinggi berbanding menteri yang ada. Kalau boleh gabung kementerian pengajian tinggi dan kementerian pelajaran, rasanya pendidikan di negara kita akan menuju tahap yang tinggi kalau dipimpin oleh Ibrahim Abu Shah ni. Semoga Tan Sri Ibrahim akan dibei kepercayaan oleh kerajaan meneruskan kecemerlangan pendidikan di negara kita di tahap lebih tinggi.
    Dr. Nudin.

  107. Assalamualaikum…
    Sayang sekali Tun…Suatu
    ketika dahulu Idea ini hangat
    dikalangan guru-guru dan pelajar
    sekolah rendah….tetapi kini
    set-set abakus itu hanya tinggal
    mendiami stor-stor di sekolah-sekolah
    rendah.
    Tun….projek Tun itu gagal atau pun
    tidak sepenuhnya berjaya.Semuanya
    kerana sistem yang sering berubah-ubah.
    Jutaan ringgit juga terbazir dengan
    pembelian abakus ini.Tun…perlaksanaan
    itu penting dan bukan dengan hanya menyelitkan
    sahaja Abakus ini dalam Kurikulum sekolah.
    Adakalanya sesuatu yang baik itu tercicir begitu
    sahaja kerana kelemahan dan sistem yang sering berubah.

  108. Dear Tun,
    To be good in Mathematics, you must practise it everyday. Practice makes perfect. I was the best Maths student in my class in 1967 Form Five Kamil English Scchool Pasir Puteh Kelantan. I worked very hard on Maths. I spent minimum of 3 hours a day on solving Mathematical problems. I solved all problems in General Mathematics Book one by Durell. It was hard cover and green in colour. Nothing substitutes hard work and dedication.
    The Chinese are generally good in Maths as compared to the Malays. This may be due to the gambling culture of the Chinese. Every Chinese New Year everyone gambles. Chinese are quick in counting when gambling using cards. I think that is the basic foundation the Chinese are good in Maths.
    I have 6 children. 5 of them are very good in Maths. The last one is Down Syndrone.
    I think it is good idea and viable to use the method of the Chinese Professsor. How to contact Tun or the Professor.
    amin tan

  109. Dear Dr. Mahathir,
    Happy New Year to you and family!
    Thank you for continue to taking interest in developing the young minds, your influence will inspire many albeit no longer active in politics.
    Your post has inspire me to write further on Learning Abacus, Anzan and Soroban: http://thecrunchtime.blogspot.com/2010/01/learning-abacus-anzan-and-soroban.html
    A video is shared at the end.
    Hopefully more experts would come forward contributing to greater Malaysian learning of Abacus. It’s best to start at the age of 3.

  110. Dear Tun,
    I am a speech therapist. I am interested to get in touch with Prof Xu to find out more about the math method. Can I seek you help? My email address is [email protected]
    Best regards,
    Wai Lam

  111. Tun,
    Abacus can ease the method of learning Mathematics to a great extent.
    The fact remains: Abacus Mathethematics is far more superior to regular Mathethematics. In particular, Abacus Mathematics training increases the “memory power” and sharpens the mental formation of a child.
    And, Mathematics should be taught when a child is young, as early as when a child is a baby.
    Besides, strong background in Mathematics is a pre-requisite for Computer Software Programming. I am proud to be associated with University of Waterloo, Canada where I earned my Degree in Mathematics in 1984. (During his visit to Waterloo in October 2005, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates stated, “Most years, we hire more students out of Waterloo than any university in the world”).
    Regards,
    http://www.leading.com.my

  112. Salam kasih dan salam hormat Ayahanda Tun. Happy New Year 2010. I sincerely apologize for going off topic here.
    I imagine you may have received our fax yesterday about the plight of animals in Zoo Negara. The caring management here has been doing a good selfless service taking care of these creatures. I was there recently visiting and got to talking to several of the friendly and caring employees there. It seems that sadly time and governmental management/responsibility may have forgotten them. How far could corporate responsibilities go? They don

  113. Yeah.
    Agree with Dr. M.
    I think we should try the method other than spending thousands of ringgit on notebooks for science and mathematics that is nearly abolished.

  114. The Chinese words for numbers themselves are advantage to the counting. For example, 11 is ten one (compared with eleven in English), 12 is ten two (twelve). …, 23 is two ten three (twenty three). In this sense, BM (after 19, such as dua puloh tiga) is closer to Chinese than English. So, we should use BM (if not Chinese) instead of English in the teaching of Science and Mathematics!!!

  115. Dear Tun,
    Asm and wish you happy new year 2010.
    Tun, I would like to see this method and hope Tun can tell me how to contact Prof Xu Si Zhong.
    Salam hormat pada Tun dan terima kasih.

  116. Dearest Tun M and all readers,
    I memang lama dah notice benda ni dan terleka sebentar sehinggala Tun M bring in this issue.
    Thank you Tun M. Kami semua sayangkan Tun. Tun concentrate saja dengan orang-orang macam kami yang dengar kata dan appreciative dengan semua pandangan Tun.
    Saya dah lama hantar anak kecil saya semasa umur 20+ bulan ke sebuah kelas Bahasa Inggeris setiap hari sehinggalah sekarang walaupun dia belum boleh bercakap kerana anak kawan-kawan saya yang berbangsa asing mempunyai sekurang-kurangnya 3 bahasa yang mereka terpaksa belajar tetapi cukup bagus untuk masa depan bangsa mereka??? Bahasa Melayu, Bahasa Inggeris dan Bahasa Ibunda mereka…..jeolous saya bila fikirkan dan oleh kerana saya sibuk bekerja dsbnya saya telah menghantar anak saya itu kepada guru B. Inggeris tadi dan berhasrat untuk menghantar beliau ke Kelas Matematik/Abacus dan sebagainya….
    Harap Menteri berkenaan ambil perhatian….rakyat terpaksa berbelanja lebih untuk menguasai bidang bahasa Inggeris dan matematik kerana Kerajaan tidak peduli hanya pentingkan suara-suara menentang dasar baik sebelum ini hanya desperate untuk menang PRU akan datang. Jadilah Lembu dicucuk hidung tetapi tak dihormati oleh rakyat….Short term Victory….that is what I can see now….tak pala Pak Menteri semua ada duit untuk hantar anak ke Kelas-kelas sedemikian tetapi apa pula jadi dengan anak bangsa sendiri….YANG PENTING IALAH KEMENANGAN BANGSA DALAM PELAJARAN SECARA GLOBAL Kerajaan akan menang kalau dasar yang telah dibuat itu sangat baik walau ada tentangan. Sekurang-kurangnya anak cucu kita tak akan mengutuk kita bila kita telah tiada nanti….

  117. I have always love math
    unfortunately I’m not good at it
    I wonder why,it is because of the system? peers?
    to me math is a universal language,even aliens understand math…

  118. Asalamualaikum…..
    he he he…luper pulak dah..terimakasih diatas segala usaha n susah payah bapak dlm membangun m’sia tercinta….

  119. Asalamualaikum…
    selamat menyambut tawon baru bapak berdua….semuga bapak sentiasa dalam rahmat n keberkatan Allah n semuga bertambah sihat sejahtera damai jiwa tenang fikiran n bahagia sampai ke syurga hendakNya..aminamin…no 9 saya suka kaler boleh bayaran jgn lah mahai sangat sbb anak adik saya ramai 4 org…saya suka juga kaler depa anta anak sedara saya ke situ sbb la ni pun dia anta tuisyen
    kelas arimathic ke apanama ke….tak silap depa guna abacus….la ni ni takleh nak harap kat mentewi2 ni bapak eh….tang nak bagi anak2 kita p zaman dinasour depa juara di antara juara….syukur gak saya takder anak….tapi mcm ane ngan nasib anak cucu cicit sedara saya sedara se agama saya ek….riso gak….SeDihhhhhh…

  120. .Salam Tun,
    .Chinese Mathematics deservedly must practice in our national primary
    school now because many of our Malay student get crucial situation
    when talking about math.
    .Only small group of malay in primary school
    well-versed mathematics compare than chinese in our country.
    .That why I fully support your plan and the education minister
    must introduce the chinese mathematics in the method of
    calculation beginning the primary.

  121. The abacus is safely tucked in somewhere safe along with the CDs, laptops and LCD projectors. Err..somewhere. Most schools still used them, but it is not unknown that some were too busy to do anything in perfection with not much time left in their hands. Being bombarded with extra superman’s responsibility if not ability of saving the world kind of stuff with peanuts to keep the monkey smiling.

  122. Assalamu’alaikum Tun,
    1. Saya ingin mengucapkan Selamat Tahun Baru 2010 kepada Tun dan Keluarga.
    2. Sistem ‘Abacus’ sepatutnya diterapkan di dalam pendidikan terutamanya kepada pendidikan sekolah rendah.
    3. Sebelum ini sistem ‘Abacus’ ini cuma boleh dipelajari di sesetengah pusat pembelajaran swasta dan pusat tuisyen luar yang memerlukan bayaran untuk mempelajarinya.
    4. Tidak semua keluarga yang mampu untuk menghantar anak-anak mereka untuk belajar. Ketika zaman sekolah saya, pelajar-pelajar cina yang berada dalam keluarga yang berada berpeluang mempelajari sistem ini. Kesannya, mereka dapat menyelesaikan masalah matematik yang agak sukar dengan lebih pantas daripada kalkulator.
    5. Saya bersetuju dengan cadangan Tun supaya sistem ini diterapkan di dalam pendidikan sekolah rendah. Ini memberi peluang kepada keluarga yang tidak berkemampuan untuk sama-sama dapat belajar sistem yang bagus ini.
    6. Tambahan pula, kemahiran matematik kepada anak melayu di sekolah rendah agak lemah dan boleh dikira ‘mereka’ yang boleh bersaing dengan pelajar cina.
    7. Saya berharap, cadangan Tun ini akan diambil kira dan diadaptasikan di dalam sistem pembelajaran. Saya juga jika diberi peluang ingin belajar sistem ini. Hopefully (^_^)

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