Learning other languages is never a ‘zero-sum game’, says PM

 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the Vaisakhi Day celebration at Stadium Indera Mulia in Ipoh, Perak, today. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Learning vernacular languages and English in schools has never come at the expense of Bahasa Melayu, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said.

He said the government has never rejected requests to provide opportunities for communities to learn their respective mother tongue, as long as the national language is also given the right attention.

“I have always said ‘OK’ to those requests and believed that the government should support such development, not question it. It is not a zero-sum game.

“If I suggest to you now that we should seriously consider teaching Punjabi, too, in school for Punjabi students, it will never be at the expense of Bahasa Melayu because Bahasa Melayu remains the medium of instruction and Malaysians must have a satisfactory proficiency (in the language),” he said during a Vaisakhi Day celebration in Ipoh, Perak, today.

Anwar also said people should aspire to improve their proficiency in English, so that Malaysia can remain globally competitive, while improving the quality of education.

“We used to be stronger in the English language. We remain somewhat comfortable, but we have lost the stature considered to be generally proficient in English. We should take that position up (again),” he said.

He urged Malaysians to embrace the country’s diversity and view the country’s multilingual society as a unique feature.

“Yes, the language is the soul of the nation and we have Bahasa Melayu for everyone, but each community wants to protect their cultural heritage.

“There’s nothing wrong with that, it can be seen as an advantage. We are a rare country where citizens of China, India or Western countries can travel here and feel comfortable because we have people who can speak their languages.

“We ought to see this as our strength,” he said. - FMT