Jabu (from eighth left), Adi and Manyin jointly hold the framed photo of old TLC images. They are joined by other VIPs and the organising committee for a group photograph. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapa
KUCHING: Sarawakians must continue to support Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s call to make English language a priority in this state, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang.
Representing the chief minister to officiate at the Tanjong Lobang College (TLC) grand reunion dinner on Saturday, he said Adenan had specifically told him to remind those present on the importance of English language as the way forward for the state.
Jabu also commented that such a focus was now necessary since a recent study carried out for Malaysia’s Outline Perspective Plan for Education found out that only 37 per cent of local university graduates are proficient in English, which resulted in their low employability.
“He (Adenan) specifically mentioned that we must not abandon the English language while at the same time carry on with Bahasa Malaysia as our national language.
“This is the main message from the Chief Minister to us, to ensure that Sarawakians must not be left behind (in the global market). English is very, very important because it is the language for interacting with the whole world, apart from it being the language of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”
Adenan had been vocal in wanting the autonomy in education to be handed back to Sarawak, including making English the medium of instruction in schools.
Recently, he criticised the federal government’s education policy as ‘stupid’ for its unwillingness to recognise the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).
On a related matter, Jabu called on Sarawakians to give Adenan another mandate to lead the state government in the coming state election.
“Let’s assure our full support to the leadership of Datuk Patinggi Adenan. He has done a lot for Sarawak (since becoming CM on Feb 28, 2014). Give him the full support to continue as chief minister for the next five years.”
“In Sarawak, we must continue with political stability that was inherited from Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s time.”
On a separate matter, he revealed he was a product of TLC (now called Kolej Tun Datuk Tuanku Haji Bujang) as he (Jabu) was among its students in 1958, a year after TLC was established.
He singled out former federal cabinet minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Leo Moggie as among his classmates and teammates in the school football team.
He shared his experiences studying at the school, including the longboat journey from Betong to Miri, till the time he worked in Miri and eventually met his wife, Dato Sri Empiang Jabu, who was posted as a teacher in that school.
He said TLC had produced many outstanding individuals who eventually became state and federal cabinet ministers and also corporate figures.
On TLC’s 60th anniversary in the next two years, he suggested the appointment of other distinguished alumni members Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar into the organising committee in order to organise a grander celebration.
Also speaking at the dinner were the dinner’s advisor and former TLC principal Datu Dr Adi Badiozaman Tuah, former principal Leonard Martin Uning and former teacher Datuk Dr Yusoff Hanifah.
The dinner also featured the attendance of former teachers, including state minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin, Empiang and former students Datu Len Talif Saleh, Datuk Julaihi Narawi, Datuk John Sikie Tayai, Limbang MP Hasbi Habibollah and Kota Samarahan Walikota Datuk Peter Minos.