Following the visit, Mr Anwar was quoted widely by local media as having proposed an idea for Singapore to send its teachers to Malaysia to teach English.
His comments were met with backlash by Malaysians on social media, with some saying the country was not respecting its own people.
Malaysia’s National Union of the Teaching Profession also rejected the proposal, saying that the country had enough locals who could do the job, Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported.
Meanwhile, a reader’s letter sent in to FMT also questioned Mr Anwar’s proposal.
“Firstly, have we finally reached the bottom of the pit, where a population of 34 million cannot source its own English teachers but has to reach out to a six million-people neighbour for resources?” asked the reader.
He also highlighted how netizens had previously called on the Malaysian authorities to tackle the “erosion of our mastery of the English language” amid “plunging ratings”, among other criticisms.
But Mr Anwar on Friday clarified that his proposal – which he claimed was part of initiatives to build bilateral ties with neighbours – only involved inviting Singapore-funded “volunteers” to teach English in urban poor areas in Malaysia and inaccessible parts of Sabah and Sarawak.
“Listen first. Sometimes three-minute experts just throw (criticism) on social media. The facts are wrong,” he said, stressing that Malaysia was not appointing English teachers from Singapore.
“What I discussed with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, is to introduce a volunteer scheme, paid by the Singapore government, to go to urban poor areas, rural areas, and the interior of Sabah and Sarawak to teach English.”
This is so that Malaysia can build good relationships with “important” neighbouring countries like Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and Indonesia, he said, adding that the discussions with Mr Wong also involved topics like the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone as well as trade and investment.
“I said, take the initiative to build a strong relationship, so people can see that there are graduates from Singapore who come under this volunteer scheme to teach English. That’s my suggestion,” Mr Anwar said.
CNA has reached out to Singapore’s Prime Minister’s Office for comments on Mr Anwar’s proposal.
The premier then brought up social media comments that criticised his suggestion, saying that some netizens had accused it of not respecting Malaysians and an attempt to bring “communism” from Singapore.
“Luckily, I am the prime minister. If not, I would have flared up,” he mused.
Mr Anwar said Malaysia also had similar education-sharing arrangements with universities in Uzbekistan and Japan.
“This is what a world that is seeking to work together looks like,” he said. “So, don’t be so quick to shoot off, to attack, and (end up being) wrong in that criticism.”
