KUCHING: English should no longer be viewed as a colonial language but recognised as a global and international language essential for knowledge acquisition and economic advancement, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
While reaffirming that Bahasa Malaysia remains the priority and national language, he said Sarawakians must also master English to remain competitive in today’s interconnected world.
“Many people still assume that English is a colonial language. That is not true anymore. Today, English is a global language, an international language,” he said in his officiating address during the opening of Yayasan Sarawak International Secondary School Kuching here today (Jan 31).
As such, he stressed that Sarawakians should be proficient in both Bahasa Malaysia and English, while also encouraging the learning of additional languages such as Mandarin and even French, depending on one’s interests and aspirations.
“In the global economy today, understanding languages is important. If you want to learn French, then learn it properly, with good pronunciation. Languages add to the knowledge of our children,” he added.
Abang Johari also highlighted Sarawak’s strong support for education, noting that students today are fortunate to have access to quality higher education with government-funded tuition fees at local universities.
“Students can enter Swinburne University of Technology, i-CATS University College, Curtin University, University Technology Sarawak; the fees are paid by the government,” he said.
He emphasised that the State’s ultimate objective is to produce knowledgeable Sarawakians, as knowledge is the key pathway out of poverty.
“If a family is categorised as poor, but two of their children graduate with new knowledge and skills, they can lift the family out of poverty because of higher salaries,” he said.
Citing the semiconductor industry as an example, Abang Johari said a single engineer could earn up to RM8,000 a month, while two skilled graduates from the same family could collectively earn RM16,000.
However, he cautioned that ordinary degrees without relevant skills would not be sufficient, which is why the State continues to emphasise education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
“I urge parents to inspire their children in STEM subjects and expose them to new knowledge from an early age,” he said.
Abang Johari also called for reading to become a cultural habit, describing it as essential for acquiring new knowledge.
