| Table of Contents |
| 1. | Introducing the Situational Context, Macro-Sociolinguistics and Key Elements of Language Planning and Policy in Malaysia | 1 |
| 1.1. | The Malaysian Story | 1 |
| 1.2. | Singapore | 5 |
| 1.3. | Indonesia | 6 |
| 1.4. | Understanding Sociolinguistics | 8 |
| 1.5. | Language Education Policy and Planning Approaches in Malaysia | 9 |
| 1.6. | Top-down and Bottom-up Policies | 12 |
| | References | 14 |
| 2. | Language, Nation-Building and Identity Formation in a Multi-Ethnic Society | 17 |
| 2.1. | Nationalism and Nation-Building | 18 |
| 2.2. | Ethnic Linguistic Identity--Pluralism or Divisiveness? | 22 |
| 2.3. | Supranational Identity: The Role of English | 26 |
| | References | 31 |
| 3. | The Role of Language Education During Colonial Rule and Post-Independence Period | 35 |
| 3.1. | The Pre-Independence Period | 36 |
| 3.2. | Evolution of Immigration into Malaya | 36 |
| 3.3. | The British Approach to Managing the Social and Educational Life of the Malay, Chinese and Indian communities | 38 |
| 3.4. | Post-Independence Period | 40 |
| 3.5. | Nationalism and Bahasa Malaysia | 41 |
| 3.6. | The Development of Bahasa Malaysia | 43 |
| 3.7. | Frustrations over the Implementation of Bahasa Malaysia | 45 |
| 3.8. | Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia | 48 |
| 3.9. | The Response of the Non-Malay Communities to the Institution of Bahasa Malaysia as the National Language | 50 |
| 3.10. | Language and Citizenship | 51 |
| | References | 53 |
| 4. | Drastic Change in the Medium of Instruction: From Bahasa Malaysia to English | 55 |
| 4.1. | The Shift from Bahasa Malaysia to English (2003) | 56 |
| 4.2. | Reasons for the Change in Language Policy | 57 |
| 4.3. | Influence of Globalization and the Knowledge Economy on Selection of English in the Domain of Science and Technology | 59 |
| 4.4. | Knowledge Economy: Implications for Human Resource Capability | 59 |
| 4.5. | Knowledge and Information Explosion: Implications for Language Policy | 60 |
| 4.6. | The Contrast with Japan | 62 |
| 4.7. | Lack of Language Legislation in the Domain of Business and Industry | 63 |
| 4.8. | Weakened Employment Base for Graduates from Public Universities | 64 |
| 4.9. | The Reaction from Tertiary Institutions | 66 |
| | References | 67 |
| 5. | The Re-reversal from English to Bahasa Malaysia | 71 |
| 5.1. | Challenges of Teacher Preparedness | 75 |
| 5.2. | Rural-urban Divide | 77 |
| 5.3. | The Element of Choice for Schools | 78 |
| 5.4. | Language Policy as a Means of Equalising Opportunities Amongst Multi-ethnic Populations | 81 |
| 5.5. | The Political Factor | 83 |
| 5.6. | Linguistic Crossroads | 84 |
| | References | 86 |
| 6. | The Impact of the Change in Medium of Instruction in Malaysia on the Chinese Community and Mother-Tongue Education | 89 |
| 6.1. | Education in Mother Tongue Education: A Brief History | 90 |
| 6.2. | Linguistic Pluralism | 91 |
| 6.3. | Challenges Facing Chinese Schools | 92 |
| 6.4. | Chinese Educationists' Response to the Implementation of Change in MOI | 94 |
| 6.5. | 243 Formula | 96 |
| 6.6. | 243 Formula for Upper Primary Levels | 96 |
| 6.7. | 6232 Formula for Upper Primary Levels | 97 |
| 6.8. | Whither the Way Forward? | 97 |
| 6.9. | The Re-Reversal of PPSMI and the Present Situation of Chinese Schools | 98 |
| | References | 101 |
| 7. | The Revival of a Minority Language in Malaysia: The Dynamics between National Linguistic Ideology and Ethnic Linguistic Identity | 103 |
| 7.1. | Historical Background of the Punjabi-Sikh Community in Malaysia | 104 |
| 7.2. | Political Viewpoint: Mahathir and Minority Languages | 105 |
| 7.3. | Unravelling the Ideology Underlying the Rhetoric of the Former Prime Minister | 105 |
| 7.4. | Liberal Approach to Mother-Tongue Education: Its Impact on Punjabi Language | 106 |
| 7.5. | Reasons for Gradual Decline of the Functional Roles of the Punjabi Language | 107 |
| 7.6. | Dynamic Tension Between National Collective Identity and Ethnic Community Identity and Ethnic Community Identity | 109 |
| 7.7. | Present-Day Government Measures for Mother-Tongue Acquisition: Impact on Punjabi Language | 111 |
| 7.8. | Community-Driven Reverse Language Shift (RLS) Measures | 112 |
| 7.9. | Punjabi Text-Book Development and Teacher Training | 113 |
| | References | 116 |
| 8. | Conclusion: The Road Ahead for Malaysia: Balancing Ethnic, National and International Identities | 119 |
| | References | 124 |
