ASAJAYA: The decision to make English an official language of the state alongside Bahasa Malaysia is done in accordance with the Malaysia Agreement.
Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said English and BM were the official languages in Sarawak as documented in the Malaysia Agreement during the formation of the country in 1963.
“Some people have accused our Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem as an unpatriotic leader for defending the use of English.
“However, what he is doing is in accordance with the Malaysia Agreement, which was agreed upon and signed during the formation of Malaysia,” he said after officiating at the Regatta Samarahan 2015 at Sungai Tambirat Waterfront yesterday.
Abang Johari, who is also Tourism Minister, pointed out that the policy introduced by Adenan was also aimed at defending the quality of English usage among the people, particularly those in the civil service.
“English is not just the language of the Western people but is used all over the world. We, in Sarawak, have no problem in conferencing at the international level,” he said.
He urged the people of Samarahan, particularly the youths, to make use of the higher education facilities in the area to master the English language.
“We do not want to see our children graduating from university and not knowing how to speak or write in English, which is why we are emphasising on this matter.
“We must be fluent not only in BM, but also in English,” he said.