KUCHING: The Sarawak government has never neglected the use of Bahasa Malaysia (BM) as one of the criteria for admission into Public Higher Education Institutions (IPTA).
However, Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee stressed that only private universities under the Sarawak government do not require a credit score for BM.
The private universities that he referred to were Curtin University, Universiti Teknologi Sarawak (UTS), and Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus.
“I recently spoke to Tan Sri Jefferey Cheah Fook Ling, who is the founder and chairman of Sunway Group regarding the credit score for Bahasa Malaysia to enter Sunway University.
“For students to enter Sunway, if they do not score credit for Bahasa Malaysia, they can still enter the university.
“That said, the students must undergo General Studies Subject or Mata Pelajaran Umum (MPU) while they study in Sunway,” he said this, noting that Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has never said to enter university, candidate is not required to score credit in BM.
He said this in his speech during the Dual Language (DLP) Sarawak Intervention: Revitalising The Highly Immersive Programme for School Leaders Workshop 2024 at Raia Hotel and Convention Centre here on Tuesday (Dec 10).
On another note, Dr Annuar stated that free tertiary education was established to ensure that Sarawakians can enter state universities regardless of who they are.
“Because for instance, some scholarships require the students to score credit in BM.
“For free tertiary education, we do not need to. Even Unified Certificate Examination (UEC) does not require BM credit score and yet they allow the students to enter university.
“That being said, I am begging those who criticise us, to stop thinking like we do not feel that BM is important.
“BM is a very important language, as it is part of national unity, yet we are more united here than in Peninsular Malaysia,” he added, further stressing that Sarawak is the model of unity in the country despite being labelled as not “emphasising” BM.
Dr Annuar stated that what is more important is students that are not only knowledgeable in BM and English but also knowledgeable in Science and Technology.
“It is more important for the development of this country to keep on debating which one to use, BM or English,” he added.
Recent reports stated that Sarawak’s proposal to allow candidates to enter universities in the state for free starting in 2026, without requiring a credit in BM in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), contradicts the National Language Policy.
Language expert Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Nik Safiah Abdul Karim stated that the implementation of the National Language Policy applies to the entire country.
“I feel saddened by the stance taken by Abang Johari, who has the right to his own stance, but I believe the National Language Policy is meant for the whole nation, as there is wisdom in the policy.
“We hope Sarawak does not stray too far from the mainstream because the language policy is a good policy. If Abang Johari wants to elevate local languages in Sarawak, we have no objections; we encourage it,” she said recently.
