Sarawak minister calls for more to be multi-lingual

Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg says mastering more than one language is essential in gaining employment.

PETALING JAYA: Mastering more than one language is essential in helping one gain employment, says Sarawak Housing and Tourism Minister Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg.

In a Borneo Post Online report, Abang Johari was reported as saying he hoped more schools in the state would place greater emphasis on making students master more than one language as being multi-lingual was crucial for school leavers as not only local companies but foreign-owned ones offered employment as well.

Speaking at an event in SK Rakyat, Kuching, Abang Johari lauded the school for teaching their students to greet visitors in Malay, English and Arab and added, “These are the type of schools we want here in the state. Students here are trained to master more than one language.”
He also stressed that schools should put more emphasis on subjects such as science and mathematics to better meet the demands of the job market.

“Graduates must understand the needs of the job market nowadays. Which is why schools must educate students in realising the importance of these two subjects,” he said.

Since taking office in 2014, Chief Minister Adenan Satem has stressed the importance of mastering English, and even adopted it as the official language of the state along with Bahasa Malaysia.