Preserve ethnic language, culture for future generation — Mary

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Mary (second right) visiting the exhibition booths.

Mary (second right) visiting the exhibition booths.

TAWAU: There must be continuous cooperation between by the Higher Education Ministry, the community, the industry and academicians (four sides) through the Quadruple Helix concept in order to preserve the language and culture of each ethnic group and produce more educated and balanced human beings.

Deputy Higher Education Minister, Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching, said there is a dire need to preserve each language and culture, particularly in Sabah, or else it would be a loss to the future generation if they are not proficient and knowledgeable of their respective language and culture.

Mary said, retaining and maintaining the continuity of our language and culture is one of the noble efforts of the ministry based on the National Blue Ocean Strategy (on higher education development) for students and the community as a whole.

Mary said this when she officiated at the closing ceremony of a four-day Unesco 2016 Programme entitled ‘Preserve Regional Languages and Ethnic Languages’ at the Tawau Sports Complex multi-purpose hall here yesterday that was attended by 35 participants.

“Besides producing educated students, the four sides should play their vital role to uphold the national higher education development and ensure that the heritage and culture of each ethnic group will be preserved forever.

“For instance, research has shown the Tidung community as an interesting study and that this ethnic group should be exposed to all. Thus, I believe the wealth of each language and culture should be maintained and preserved continuously through the organisation of more meaningful programmes from time to time,” she added.

Also present were the Institute of Language and Literature (DBP) deputy director-general, Datuk Haji Abang Sallehuddin, who represented the director-general Tuan Haji Abdul Adzis Abas, the Malaysian Higher Education Ministry international relations division secretary, Mohd Yunus Charlie Charington, Unesco Malaysia National Commission secretary-general, Khairul Adib Abdul Rahman, Tawau Tidung Community Association president, Pangeran Raden Pangeran Hassan @ Hj Kakung, and a representative of the Tawau Municipal Council (TMC), Joseph Pang.