Can use both for now

Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Government maintains the optional use of English for official letters until it is further discussed by the State Cabinet. Sabah Deputy State Secretary (Development) Datuk Dr Ahemad Sade said the meeting would be held closer to the next State Assembly sitting in November.

“For the time being we go about as usual. The Federal announcement is not implemented yet,” he said, Thursday.

On Wednesday, Prime Minsiter Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said official letters addressed to the Federal Government would not be entertained if written in other than the national language.

However, Sarawak State Secretary Dato Sri Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki said the state would “not follow and that it does not apply in Sarawak”.

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CHIEF Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor’s 2021 Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya Plan and the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA) have laid out a road map to an exciting future for all Sabahans, with a target of increasing Sabah’s income levels and GDP per capita from about RM 23,000 to about RM 40,000 by 2030.

Sabah Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Phoong Jin Zhe said Sabah should adopt a more flexible approach.

“Investors and international companies are welcome to communicate with my Ministry and departments in either Malay or English.

“Considering Sabah’s unique historical background and the Malaysia Agreement 1963, Sabah should be allowed flexibility and freedom in this matter.

“Such approach will help Sabah become an emerging international investment destination,” he said.

Former Chief Minister Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee believes banning the use of any language other than Bahasa Melayu in correspondence with government departments will be detrimental to economic growth.

He said some government departments, by necessity and the nature of their work responsible for dealing with foreign entities and businesses, must communicate in English, which is the lingua franca of international trade, communication and diplomacy.

“I am not only referring to Wisma Putra (Foreign Affairs) but also to agencies like Mida (Malaysia Industrial Development Authority), Matrade (Malaysia Trade Agency), Bank Negara, to name a few.

“Returning incoming mail that is written in languages other than Bahasa Melayu will also send a negative message to the international community that Malaysia is not open to foreign investment or trade and is not interested in collaborating with other countries.

“Even our law enforcement agencies (police, anti-corruption, immigration) have to receive and process all sorts of incoming mail and reports in various languages,” he said in a statement Thursday.

Yong said it would be a loss to the country and to progress if such mail to the Government is “returned to sender” as was suggested by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar ibrahim, as this would disconnect and isolate the country.

He said Bahasa Melayu, as the National Language, has already succeeded in becoming the common lingua franca, a medium of communication among all Malaysians, and used in the daily lives of ordinary people.

The national campaign on “Guna Bahasa Kebangsaan” in the 1980s already achieved its purpose.

He said with rare exceptions, 99.9 per cent of official correspondence with Malaysian and Sabah government departments is either in Bahasa Melayu or English.

“We hope the Prime Minister does not actually mean to return all mail to the Government written in languages other than Bahasa Melayu. There are many ways to strengthen and add value to our national language, such as producing quality literature, songs, dramas, and philosophical wisdom, without adversely impacting the country’s economic development,” he said.

Another former Sabah CM Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak opined that the implementation of the new policy should “ideally” be coordinated with the Sabah and Sarawak governments.

“There is no denying that Malay is the national language but the importance of mastering English cannot be disputed.

“This is because English as a global language is widely used and needs to be mastered, especially by civil servants dealing with foreign countries and students who will explore the field of knowledge, and then apply it in the world of work,” said the Usukan Assemblyman.

Also present were Kota Belud District Deputy Education Officer Laugan Iman and Kota Belud SMK Pekan Principal Junainah Baharudin. Salleh called for a concerted effort, including parents, to help the country realise its goal of achieving international recognition for high standards in education.

He said the Education Ministry (MoE) has launched a number of initiatives to meet this goal, including the Anak yang Baik Lagi Cerdik (ABC) initiative, which stands for “children who are good and smart.”

According to him, one of the objectives of the ABC concept is to educate kids to be good and intelligent people.

“This idea is also consistent with the National Education Philosophy, which aims to further each person’s potential in a comprehensive and integrated manner to produce harmonious and balanced individuals.”

In addition to building a society where people support one another, Salleh believes that the ABC concept can teach children to uphold morality and discipline, follow the law, and foster healthy competition among themselves.

He added that the MoE had also carried out a number of other initiatives, such as those that promote community engagement with schools and raise parental involvement in their children’s education.

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