Singapore blocks MalaysiaNow for defying correction order

The Singaporean government has ordered internet service providers to block access to the news outlet MalaysiaNow. - Social media pic, November 17, 2025

Singapore blocks MalaysiaNow for defying correction order


The news outlet's refusal to comply with a correction notice regarding false claims about convicted drug courier Pannir Selvam Pranthaman results in government action under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act



A. Azim Idris
Updated 11 seconds ago
17 November, 2025
7:22 PM MYT

SINGAPORE — The Singaporean government has ordered internet service providers to block access to the news outlet MalaysiaNow, following its refusal to comply with a correction direction under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA).
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The Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a joint statement on November 17, 2025, announcing the block after MalaysiaNow failed to amend an article from November 9. The article in question made false claims about the treatment of convicted drug courier Pannir Selvam Pranthaman, CNA reported.

“We are aware of MalaysiaNow’s statement rejecting the correction direction (CD) and criticising the Singapore government’s approach to addressing online falsehoods,” MDDI and MHA said.

“Despite reminders to comply, MalaysiaNow has not done so. These are not actions that would be taken by any responsible media outlet with journalistic integrity.”

The correction direction required MalaysiaNow to display both the government’s facts and the article’s falsehoods, allowing Singaporean readers to make an informed judgment. MalaysiaNow, however, refused to comply. “We do not take instructions from any government,” wrote the outlet’s editor, Abdar Rahman Koya, in a statement.

The correction direction did not require the removal of the original article but asked for an additional correction notice alongside the false claims. MHA clarified that the intention was to provide both versions to the public for an informed decision.

In addition to blocking MalaysiaNow’s website, the POFMA Office has also issued correction directions to Meta Platforms, LinkedIn, and X. These platforms are now required to notify users in Singapore who have accessed, or will access, the disputed posts.

According to the Singaporean government, the article published by MalaysiaNow made several false statements, according to MHA. These included claims that Pannir’s execution violated the rule of law and accusations that the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) secretly facilitated an interview with Pannir by the Malaysian police.

Authorities also noted it also falsely alleged that Singapore Prison Service officers misled Pannir’s family into signing a document stating that his belongings had been returned.

MHA reaffirmed that Pannir was not granted a certificate of substantive assistance, as the public prosecutor determined he had not assisted CNB in disrupting drug trafficking. The court rejected Pannir’s legal challenge to this decision in 2021.

Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, those convicted of trafficking drugs may be sentenced to life imprisonment instead of the death penalty, provided they meet specific criteria, including providing substantive assistance to CNB.

The Singaporean government reiterated its commitment to protecting citizens from harmful misinformation. – November 17, 2025

Pastor Koh & Amri Che Mat - High Court Lays Down the Law

 

OutSyed The Box

Monday, November 17, 2025

Pastor Koh & Amri Che Mat - High Court Lays Down the Law

This is a one hour Gut Shot podcast where Sam Saad and myself discuss the High Court's decision on the Pastor Koh and Amri Che Mat abductions. Please do tell people about it. It is important that all law abiding and decent people get on the same page on this matter.  

 

 

SATIRE | Is the Law an Ass?

 

SATIRE | Is the Law an Ass?


17 Nov 2025 • 8:30 AM MYT


Dr. D. Ananda
Lecturer at a university, commentator, published writer

Palace of Justice Malaysia (Image Source: The Diplomat)


Editorial Remark: This content is satirical and opinion-based, reflecting the author’s personal views. It is not intended to defame, insult, or target any individual, group, or institution and may contain humor or exaggeration for entertainment purposes.


(A satirical look at our legal system)


The question once posed by Charles Dickens — “Is the law an ass?” — has found its spiritual home in Malaysia. Recent developments suggest not only is the law an ass, it is a VVIP donkey dressed in designer batik, chauffeured in a Vellfire, and escorted by outriders all the way to Pavilion Mall.


Zahid’s Vanishing Act


One very senior minister made headlines last year when his 47 corruption and money laundering charges linked to welfare organosation evaporated under the now-famous DNAA (Discharge Not Amounting to Acquittal).


Legal experts explained DNAA as a “technical procedure.” In practice, it appears closer to a “Delete Key” for politicians.


“DNAA doesn’t mean he’s innocent,” one analyst said. “It just means the charges are sleeping, like a dragon in hibernation. Of course, in Malaysia, dragons sleep forever.”


Supporters outside court wept with joy, holding banners that read: “Z you are our saviour”. One even shouted, “Next GE, he will save us!” To which a pasar malam trader muttered, “Yes, from our money.”


The Growing DNAA Club


He is not alone in this exclusive fraternity. Other honorary members include:

An MP impicated in a road project corruption – DNAA.

A Sabah politician and his wife Felcra bribery) – DNAA.

and few others…




“The DNAA list is starting to look like open house,” quipped one activist. “Everyone’s invited, except the rakyat.”


Najib’s Mansion Prison

Former Prime Minister Najib Razak faces possibility of “House Detention” (Image Source: The Borneo Post)


Then comes the star of the show: Najib Razak, convicted in the 1MDB scandal and sentenced to 12 years in Kajang Prison. After a royal pardon cut his sentence in half, whispers now grow that Najib could be transferred to house arrest.


But this isn’t your average rumah flat. Najib’s “house” is a mansion with chandeliers, golf simulators, and possibly more bathrooms than most Malaysians have friends on Facebook.


“Confining Najib there is cruel,” said one supporter. “He will suffer terribly if the WiFi drops.”


Sources say Najib is already planning a vlog series, “House Arrest Diaries”, with episodes such as:

Ep. 1: Lobster Thermidor Without Truffle Oil – A Survivor’s Tale

Ep. 2: Netflix Buffering – My Darkest Hour



Compassion, Malaysian-Style


Officials insist these decisions show Malaysia’s “compassionate justice.”


But compassion seems highly selective. Makcik Ros, fined RM1,000 for selling nasi lemak during lockdown, was unimpressed. “Najib gets compassion in a mansion, I get summons in the market,” she sighed.


Grab driver Hafiz was equally blunt: “I checked Waze at a traffic light and got RM300 fine. Maybe I should steal RM3 million next time. At least then I’ll get bunga manggar outside court.”



Coming Soon: DNAA on Sale


Adding to the rakyat’s bewilderment, rumours spread yesterday of a bold new innovation.


BREAKING (Satire Service): Shopee is reportedly preparing to sell “DNAA Express Vouchers” during its 9.9 Mega Sale. For RM9.90, buyers receive instant legal relief. Early birds get a complimentary House Arrest Starter Kit: rose-gold ankle monitor, Netflix Premium, and free GrabFood delivery worth RM50.


When asked if this undermines confidence in the justice system, one “senior source” replied:


“No, lah. This is Malaysia. We call it digital transformation.”

Final Word

The law is an Ass (Image Source: Goodreads)


So, is the law an ass in Malaysia? Analysts say yes. Not just an ass, but a pampered donkey fed on taxpayer carrots, paraded in Gucci sunglasses, and escorted to five-star buffets after each court appearance.


As one weary rakyat outside court remarked:

“Here, the law isn’t blind. She’s just shopping.”

Palestinian deaths in Israeli jails surge amid Gaza war

al Jazeera:

Palestinian deaths in Israeli jails surge amid Gaza war: Report

Israeli authorities have been systematically abusing Palestinian prisoners with impunity, according to PHRI

A freed Palestinian prisoner released by Israel as part of the ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, hugs a family member, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, October 13, 2025 [Ramadan Abed/Reuters]

By Maziar Motamedi
Published On 17 Nov 2025


The number of Palestinians that have died in Israeli detention facilities has surged amid the war in Gaza, according to a report issued by a human rights group.

At least 94 Palestinian deaths have been documented since October 2023, the report published on Monday by Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI) said.

The report is just the latest accusation regarding Israel’s jails, in which critics say thousands of Palestinians taken from Gaza and the occupied West Bank are routinely abused.

The nonprofit organisation expressed “grave concerns that the actual number of Palestinians who have died in Israeli custody is significantly higher, particularly among those detained from Gaza”.

It said Israeli authorities have consistently failed to hold those responsible for the deaths to account.

Of the 94 deaths that the report documents, 68 were from the Gaza Strip, while 26 were from the West Bank or held Israeli citizenship.

Israeli military prisons were responsible for at least 52 of the deaths. The remaining 42 were documented in facilities run by the Israel Prison Service (IPS).






Amid the war, Israeli soldiers have detained thousands of people from across Gaza. PHRI’s report asserts that they are now effectively “disappeared”.

The Israeli authorities have stopped sharing detainee information with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and barred all access to detention sites.

PHRI called those moves a “direct breach of both international and domestic law”.

Israel also refuses to acknowledge that it is holding many Palestinian prisoners, or that some have died in custody, leaving families in the dark for prolonged periods.

Some families found out about the death of their loved ones from Israeli media reports.

PHRI pointed at the case of Dr Hussam Abu Safia, the renowned director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, for whom Israeli authorities claimed for days that they had “no indication of the individual’s arrest or detention”.

Israel continues to hold the doctor, who was taken from the hospital in December, despite an international outcry. His lawyer asserts that he has been subjected to torture and humiliation.

Deaths of Palestinians in Israeli custody have been recorded in almost all major IPS facilities, including Ktzi’ot Prison, Megiddo, Nitzan and Ofer, as well as military camps and bases, including the notorious Sde Teiman, the report says.

Physical violence, including bruising, rib fractures, internal organ damage and intracranial haemorrhage, has been a leading cause of death, followed by chronic medical neglect or denial and severe malnutrition.

“Given the grave conditions faced by Palestinians in Israeli incarceration facilities, and in light of Israel’s policies of enforced disappearance, systematic killing, and institutionalized cover-ups, PHRI calls for an independent international investigation into the deaths of Palestinians in Israeli custody,” the NGO said.

***

Israeli Shailoks are Beasts of Babylon

Religious teacher jailed seven years for sexual assault on 13-year-old pupil

theVibes.com:

Religious teacher jailed seven years for sexual assault on 13-year-old pupil

A 47-year-old Islamic Education teacher sentenced to seven years in prison and two strokes of the cane for sexually assaulting 13-year-old female student the school's prayer room

Updated 4 hours ago · Published on 17 Nov 2025 3:01PM

The court granted a stay of execution pending an appeal to the High Court, provided the bail is increased to RM20,000, and the accused complies with strict conditions - November 17, 2025



ISLAMIC Education teacher Farid Azhar Nawi, 47, from a secondary school in Senawang, was today sentenced to a total of seven years' imprisonment and two strokes of the cane for physically sexually assaulting a female pupil, then aged 13, in the school's surau (prayer room) three years prior.


Seremabam Court Judge Datin Surita Budin delivered the sentence after concluding that the defence had failed to raise any reasonable doubt against the prosecution's case.

Delivering her decision at the close of the defence, the judge stated that the accused's testimony was "a mere denial that failed to raise doubt against the prosecution's case."

The court noted that the victim's testimony was "consistent and not purely fabricated, and was supported by two eyewitnesses who also saw the incident."

The judge dismissed the accused's claim of a conspiracy, stating, "The accused's claim that there was a pact or attempt by the school to frame him was an assumption that could not be proven."

Datin Surita Budin further found the child witness to be honest and lacking malicious intent. She sternly remarked that as an educator entrusted to guide children, the accused had "misused his position, causing the victim trauma and tarnishing the reputation of religious teachers, thereby damaging the school's image."

"The accused should have protected and provided good instruction to the pupil, not taken advantage of the victim who was only 13 years old at the time of the incident," she asserted, emphasising that the court "cannot be lenient in cases involving sexual assault against children, which is a serious offence."

In addition to the custodial sentence, the judge ordered the accused to undergo rehabilitation counselling throughout his imprisonment and be subjected to police supervision for one year following his release.

The charge specifies that the accused committed physical sexual assault by sexually touching the waist of a 13-year-old girl at the time of the incident, exploiting his position of trust as a teacher.

The offence occurred on 4 August 2022, around 5:30 PM, at the surau*of a secondary school in Senawang.

This contravenes Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, read together with Section 16(c) of the same Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment and caning, in addition to five years' imprisonment and two strokes of the cane.

Defence counsel Nor Azleen Khairina A Aziz informed the court of her client's intention to appeal against the conviction and the severity of the sentence, arguing that a heavy sentence risks injustice.

She pleaded for a lighter and more reasonable sentence, highlighting that the accused is a first-time offender with no prior record, has two wives and five children, three of whom are university students, and has shown deep remorse and acknowledged his weakness.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Norazihah Asmuni requested a commensurate sentence, citing the seriousness of sexual crimes involving children, and urged the court to uphold the principle of public interest over personal interest.

The defence then sought a stay of execution pending the appeal to the High Court. While the prosecution objected, the court granted the stay, considering the accused is a civil servant.

However, the judge increased the bail to RM20,000 with additional conditions that the accused must report to the nearest police station once a month and surrender his passport. - November 17, 2025

PI Bala’s SD linking me to Altantuya untrue, says Najib

FMT:

PI Bala’s SD linking me to Altantuya untrue, says Najib

5 hours ago
Faisal Asyraf

Former prime minister Najib Razak says the contents of a statutory declaration made by private investigator P Balasubramaniam on July 1, 2008 are a ‘total fabrication’

Najib Razak is suing Tommy Thomas and publisher GB Gerakbudaya Enterprise Sdn Bhd over alleged defamatory content in Thomas’s memoir, ‘My Story: Justice in the Wilderness’.

SHAH ALAM: Former prime minister Najib Razak has maintained that a statutory declaration (SD) made by a private investigator 17 years ago linking him to Altantuya Shaariibuu’s murder was a lie.

Testifying in his suit against former attorney-general Tommy Thomas, Najib insisted that P Balasubramaniam’s first SD, made on July 1, 2008, was “untrue”.

He also acknowledged that he had not taken legal action against either Balasubramaniam or Malaysiakini over the contents of an interview series published in 2009.


Balasubramaniam, also known as “PI Bala”, issued a second SD just one day after his first – this time recanting his earlier claim and denying any link between Najib and the Mongolian national.

He later recanted the second SD, claiming it was made under duress.


Cross-examined by counsel Alan Adrian Gomez, representing Thomas, Najib said the first SD linking him to Altantuya was a “total fabrication”.

Gomez: Would you agree that the articles report how PI Bala recanted the second SD?

Najib: The first SD is totally untrue.

Gomez: Would you agree that the way it was reported, PI Bala stood by the first SD?


Najib: The way it’s written? It’s not true. You want me to confirm something that is not true.

Gomez: Yet you never sued PI Bala or Malaysiakini for the articles?

Najib: No, I didn’t.


Asked if he had personal knowledge of Balasubramaniam being placed under duress during the making of the first SD, Najib said: “There must have been some form of persuasion because it’s a total fabrication.”


He said the SD contained serious allegations which could be deemed defamatory.

Najib is suing Thomas and publisher GB Gerakbudaya Enterprise Sdn Bhd over alleged defamatory content in Thomas’s memoir, “My Story: Justice in the Wilderness”, published in early 2021.

Najib’s complaint centres around the contents of Chapter 42, titled “Altantuya”, which runs from pages 400 to 405.

He is seeking unspecified damages and wants words and statements deemed defamatory to be removed.

He also wants Thomas and Gerakbudaya to tender an apology, and is seeking a permanent injunction to prevent them from publishing defamatory statements about him.

The hearing before Justice Khadijah Idris continues on Jan 19.

PAS calls for ‘Santiago of the Seas’ to be pulled from air over alleged LGBT content

The PAS Ulama Council (DUPP) has urged the government to take firm action against the airing of the animated series Santiago of the Seas, which has been accused of featuring LGBTQ+ characters. - Social media pic, November 17, 2025

PAS calls for ‘Santiago of the Seas’ to be pulled from air over alleged LGBT content


Ulama Council demands action against the animated series, largely made by Malaysian studio Lemon Sky



A. Azim Idris
Updated 28 seconds ago
17 November, 2025
3:37 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR — The PAS Ulama Council (DUPP) has urged the government to take firm action against the airing of the animated series Santiago of the Seas, which has been accused of featuring LGBTQ+ characters and promoting a gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) agenda indirectly.





Datuk Mohd Nor Hamzah, the information chief of DUPP, emphasised the need for the government to address any content linked to LGBT themes, warning that such portrayals could normalise what they consider deviant behaviours in Malaysia.

He pointed out that such issues have increasingly targeted children in recent years.

“DUPP suggests that the government conduct thorough screenings of foreign cartoons to avoid the potential spread of LGBT influences,” he said in a statement today.

“The subtle attacks from LGBT supporters are becoming harder to detect, slowly infiltrating the minds of children.”

The controversy erupted after social media users expressed concern over alleged LGBT+ elements in Santiago of the Seas, a series currently airing on a government-owned TV channel.

DUPP also expressed the view that including LGBT themes in children’s cartoons is part of a long-term strategy to erode young minds, ultimately shaping a society that accepts such ideologies in the future.

“This moral decay should be a major concern and must be confronted with clear policies that are uncompromising,” Hamzah said.

“DUPP calls for more focus on local animation production, as we already have the capability. It is safer for the country’s future to avoid normalising harmful influences, especially for children.”

Some parents and concerned citizens have voiced their worries on social media, with some questioning how the content was allowed to air on a local television station, considering Malaysia’s status as an Islamic nation.

The series Santiago of the Seas, which was partly produced in Malaysia, has gained attention for its connection to the local animation industry.

A significant portion of the animation and CGI work was completed by Lemon Sky Studios, a Malaysian company, during the Movement Control Order (MCO) in 2020. – November 17, 2025

***

Haven't seen it yet, Have to confess I don't like nor want to watch movies and TV dramas with an LGBTQI theme, though demanding these be taken off spells dictatorial intolerance - typical of PAS ulamas.

al Jazeera:

Tension high as Bangladesh tribunal convicts ex-PM Hasina

Bangladesh has beefed up security as trial mulls charges of crimes against humanity for Hasina – currently in exile in India – due to 2024 crackdown on protests that killed hundreds.

Published On 17 Nov 202517 Nov 2025

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Tensions are high in Bangladesh as a tribunal has convicted fugitive former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on charges of crimes against humanity.

Security was beefed up in the capital Dhaka and across the country as rival factions anticipated the ruling of the special tribunal, which was announced on Monday.

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The prosecution is seeking the death penalty for Hasina, 78, who has been in exile in India since an uprising last year that killed hundreds of people and ended her 15-year rule.

The United Nations says up to 1,400 people were killed and thousands injured in a crackdown as Hasina tried to cling to power.

Bangladesh has been led by an interim government since, and has been mired in political turmoil. Violence has marred campaigning for elections, expected in February 2026, that will choose a new government.

Authorities and the military are braced for potential violence.

Security forces have surrounded the court since the date of the verdict was set on Thursday, with armoured vehicles manning checkpoints.

Dhaka Municipal Police spokesman Talebur Rahman said the force would remain on high alert, and that almost half the city’s 34,000 police would be on duty on Monday.

‘Kangaroo court’

Hasina defied court orders that she return from India to attend the trial. The former-PM’s Awami League party has labelled the tribunal a “kangaroo court” and called for a nationwide shutdown.

In a message to supporters, Hasina insisted that the allegations against her are false.

A man holds a poster in front of the court demanding capital punishment for Hasina, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, November 17, 2025 (Reuters)

“Let them issue a verdict. I don’t care. God gave me life, God will take it, but I will keep working for the people of my country. I have lost my parents, my siblings, and they burned down my home,” the former leader said, according to India’s NDTV.

“I am telling my party workers: Don’t worry, it is a matter of time. I know you are suffering, we will not forget this, everything will be accounted for,” she added.

‘Use lethal weapons’

Prosecutors have filed five charges against Hasina, including failure to prevent murder, which amount to crimes against humanity under Bangladeshi law.

Secret phone call recordings, accessed by Al Jazeera, have revealed that Hasina “issued an open order” to “use lethal weapons” on protesters and shoot “wherever they find them”.

“Justice will be served according to the law,” Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam told reporters when the verdict date was set last week.

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The trial has heard months of testimony alleging that the former leader ordered mass killings. Hasina has called the trial a “jurisprudential joke”.

Her co-accused include former Interior Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal – also a fugitive – and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who is in custody and has pleaded guilty.

Hasina was assigned a state-appointed lawyer for the trial, but she has refused to recognise the court’s authority.

Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed, who was also an adviser to her government, earlier predicted to reporters that his mother would be found guilty and sentenced to death.

However, he added that Hasina is safe and will be protected by Indian security forces.

A More Competitive Vietnam – Making English Compulsory 2nd Language In Schools By 2035

A More Competitive Vietnam – Making English Compulsory 2nd Language In Schools By 2035


November 16th, 2025 by financetwitter



“The English language helps me talk to people from different countries,” – said 11-year-old Kim Long. “I also love it because I can read lots of books and comics, and watch football on YouTube, too,” – he rattled on in fluent English. He is not a Malaysian ethnic Chinese, but the next generation of Vietnamese eager to leapfrog Vietnam miles ahead of Malaysia and other nations in Asia.

In 1980, Malaysia’s GDP was US$24.5 billion, whereas Vietnam’s was merely US$2.4 billion (just 10% of Malaysia’s). Malaysia consistently achieved more than 7% GDP growth along with low inflation in the 1980s and the 1990s. In fact, Malaysia was considered a “tiger of Asia” in the 1990s due to its rapid economic growth, while Vietnam – still recovering from war – was laughed at due to its struggling economy.



In 1990 (10 years later), Malaysia’s GDP almost doubled to US$44 billion compared to Vietnam’s US$6.5 billion. But few noticed how Vietnam’s “Doi Moi” reforms, launched in 1986, would transform Vietnam from a centrally planned economy to a market-oriented one, leading to significant economic growth and poverty reduction. Today, nobody dares to laugh at Vietnam.


In 2024, Malaysia has a GDP of US$422 billion compared to US$476 billion for Vietnam, ranking 39/197 and 34/197 by economy size, respectively. Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam’s economy still reported positive growth and exceeded Singapore’s US$337.5 billion and Malaysia’s US$336.3 billion. Vietnam’s GDP of US$413 billion already surpassed Malaysia’s US$407 billion in 2022.




One of the factors contributing to Malaysia’s attractiveness as a key foreign investment destination was its high English proficiency. But even this advantage is under threat as religious extremism and racial bigotry dominate Malaysian politics. Vietnam, on the other hand, is aggressively pushing English proficiency at the core of education reform as part of its 2035 roadmap, aiming to build a globally skilled workforce.



The boy – who is in Grade 5 (the equivalent of Primary 5 in Singapore or Standard 5 in Malaysia) – and his peers in Nguyen Binh Khiem Elementary School, in Cau Giay, Hanoi, have been learning English since first grade. At school, the pupils have daily English classes. They also take part in games, sing and watch videos in English, unlike Malaysia’s national schools.


Since 2023, math and science lessons in the school have been conducted in Vietnamese and English – a school initiative strongly supported by parents. This primary school is not the norm in Vietnam – at least, not now. But by 2030, the government hopes every child will have the opportunity to learn English from the age of six, as Kim did.





Currently, English is mandatory only from Grade 3. Some schools with enough qualified teachers and facilities can offer it from Grade 1, but only as an elective with two lessons a week. Nguyen Binh Khiem’s vice-principal Pham Thi Bich Ngoc told The Straits Times that the school has incorporated the English language into its first-grade curriculum for the past five years.



Recently, the Vietnamese government announced a nationwide plan to establish English as a compulsory second language in all schools by 2035, and a mandatory subject from Grade 1 by 2030. In addition, under the new initiative, all kindergartens and pre-schools must introduce children to English within the next five years.


“Currently, although English is still an elective subject in Grades 1 and 2, the school has built an integrated English programme to help students become familiar with the language naturally from the very beginning,” – said Ms Ngoc. “Our goal is to develop communication reflexes, confident listening and speaking skills, and a love of learning English in young children.”





In Vietnam, more than 90% of students attend government or public schools. Primary or elementary schools have pupils from Grades 1 to 5. Middle school is for Grades 6 to 9, and high school for Grades 10 to 12, and then students may head on to university. This is very different from Malaysia’s government schools, where religious studies dominate the timetable and any move to improve English is opposed.



There are a handful of private schools catering to Vietnamese students, and around 80 international schools – mostly in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City – with the medium of instruction in languages such as English, French and Russian, which serve mainly the foreign community.


The Vietnamese master plan is to improve English proficiency and help “shape a globally competent generation ready for international integration”, according to a government statement in late October. By 2045, English is expected to be widely used in 50,000 public schools with nearly 30 million students across the country. At present, there are more than 26,000 schools in Vietnam with some 23 million students.





Mrs Le Huong Lan, 28, an office manager in Hanoi, said that although her four-year-old daughter has yet to start formal schooling, she is keen for her to learn English as soon as possible. “English is as important as Vietnamese these days, because our children will be global citizens when they grow up.”



{ Ambitious Plan Stymied by Teacher Shortage }

In order to achieve this “extremely ambitious” plan, noted Mr Bui Manh Hung, 62, former chief coordinator of Vietnam’s general education reform, the education system needs to overcome various challenges. These include an acute shortage of English language teachers and the kind of teaching that focuses on passing exams instead of effective communication.




“A second language is a language that is not the mother tongue but is widely used in the society where the learners live, not only in schools but also in work and daily communication. That language must be used for real communication, and not just learnt in the classroom,” – said Mr Hung, who remains active in the education sector as a lecturer and adviser to schools, universities and government committees.



However, it would be “unrealistic” to expect the Vietnamese to adopt the English language as it has been done in Singapore, the Philippines or India, due to historical circumstances, he said. “It will always be regarded as a foreign language – not a national language, but a very special, top-priority foreign language,” he added.



Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training estimates that by 2030, the country will need an additional 22,000 English teachers in the pre-school and elementary system. The country currently has 1.05 million pre-school and general education teachers of all grades, of whom only around 30,000 specialise in English.




Each year, the country’s universities and teacher training institutes produce about 3,000 teachers who are proficient and able to teach English, estimates Mr Hung. “The quality of English teaching in Vietnam is very problematic,” – admitted Ms Tran Thi Thu Trang, 33, an English language schoolteacher in Thai Nguyen province, north-east of Hanoi. And there is a valid reason why.



During the 1970s and 1980s, Russian was Vietnam’s most popular foreign language, but as the country opened to the world, English took the lead, followed by French and Japanese, according to the Ministry of Education and Training. A large number of teachers are older and their own command of English is not great, therefore, teaching focuses on grammar and exams, rather than communication.



Many Russian language teachers retrained and switched to teaching English, even though they did not speak it. One of them, who declined to be named, said she did so to meet the huge demand for English language teachers. “Officials believed that all foreign languages shared certain similarities, so it was best to make use of our existing teaching skills,” – said the trilingual teacher, who is in her 50s.




Producing tens of thousands of English language teachers within five years is “almost impossible”, – explained Mr Hung, the education expert. “And we’re not even talking about other teaching posts for subjects like maths, information technology and natural sciences to be conducted in English.”



Yet other educators are hopeful and more positive. “The shift to a bilingual environment requires teachers to not only be good at English, but also be flexible, confident and have appropriate teaching methods,” – said Mrs Nguyen Huyen Trang, principal of ULIS Middle School, which is affiliated with the University of Languages and International Studies.



The ambitious plan extends beyond just teaching English as a subject to include teaching other academic subjects in English as well as Vietnamese. “However, I believe that if there is a continuous training policy and a synchronous support mechanism, this is a feasible transition,” – Mrs Tran said. “All the activities at our school, from teaching to extracurricular activities, are aimed at creating a natural English environment for students.”




{ How Foreign Teachers Help Fill The Gap }

Vietnamese parents recognize the importance of learning English for their children’s future and invest heavily in English courses at private language schools, which have sprung up in the past decade or two. English language teaching has become a profitable business, with a three-month learning course for children costing up to 20 million dong (S$985; RM3,135). This, in a country with annual gross domestic product per capita of US$4,700 (S$6,100; RM19,400).



There are about 70 language centres across the country, employing more than 700 qualified foreign teachers. Yet the real number of foreigners who work as English teachers in Vietnam could run well into the thousands. “The conditions for qualified expat teachers in Vietnam are much better than in neighbouring countries like Thailand or Cambodia,” – said Ms Dunuan Kim, 35, from the Philippines.





Ms Kim has been teaching English in a language school in Hanoi for more than three years, earning double what she was offered at a similar school in Bangkok. “But many unqualified expats work for much less, and the authorities need to act, as this affects education quality,” – she said, referring to foreigners living in Vietnam who conduct English lessons even though they are not qualified to do so.


In June 2024, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim proposed a program to import English language teachers from Singapore as volunteers to improve language proficiency in the country. However, the plan appears to have died a natural death after Anwar was criticised for disrespecting local teachers (who taught half-baked English) and was opposed by Malay extremists.



{ Uneven Resource Allocation }

The Vietnamese government in 2021 tightened requirements for foreign teachers and language schools, making hiring more difficult – and created challenges for schools with limited resources. “New regulations require at least three years of experience teaching English as a foreign language, but if you have that experience, you wouldn’t want to live and work in a small town like ours,” – said Mrs Thuy Quynh, who runs a language centre in Ninh Binh, 100km from Hanoi.





She said native speakers are crucial for a natural speaking environment, and without them, children in rural areas miss out on opportunities to practise English. “Most of my students have never had a chance to speak to a foreign teacher,” – said Ms Trang, the schoolteacher, who urged the government to invest more resources and more evenly.


Vice-Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong said in November that Hanoi’s key priorities include effective resource allocation, teacher training, international partnerships, infrastructure investment and active social engagement. He also underlined the role of digital transformation and technology applications, especially the use of artificial intelligence, in English language teaching.



But some industry experts expressed doubts over the ambitious timeline proposed by planners. “The goal of making English a second language at all schools across the country within the next 10 years, in my opinion, remains far-fetched without concrete measures,” – said Mr Hung.




“We need to view this as a long-term strategy rather than just a political decision, and adapt the plan to fit Vietnam’s realities,” – he added, implying that the process may need to slow down a little. However, slowing down is something many in Vietnam’s official circles are reluctant to accept.


Officials say making English a compulsory second language will enhance not only individual career prospects, but the country’s global competitiveness as well. With a workforce proficient in English, Vietnam could become a more attractive destination for international companies – particularly those in the technology and finance sectors, which are core components of the country’s national economic development strategy.



For youngsters like 11-year-old Kim, speaking English is the key to turning his childhood dream of becoming a successful footballer-cum-airline pilot into reality. “I watch YouTube videos (in English) to learn football skills from international players and I need to understand everything they say,” Kim said. “Oh, and it’s football, not soccer (in this part of the world),” – he added with a grin.