By Karen Bong
MIRI, Sept 28: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has praised the leadership of Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg for maintaining Bahasa Malaysia as the national language while aggressively pursuing English as a vital second language in Sarawak.
Anwar emphasised that this dual-language approach is critical to giving Malaysia a competitive edge, especially as it seeks to strengthen its position as a trading nation.
Speaking at a dinner banquet in a hotel here tonight, he noted that while Malaysia is fortunate to have a disciplined and skilled workforce, major international corporations such as Nvidia, Microsoft, and AWS have pointed out the need for Malaysia to enhance its talent development.
“They stressed the importance of specialised training, not just for engineers but for high-end, niche skills in digital and artificial intelligence (AI) that is lacking,” he said.
Anwar highlighted the urgency of utilising all available resources to equip Malaysia’s youth with the necessary skills for the future.
“Our young people have the potential; they just need the opportunity. The Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Education must act swiftly to implement these changes,” he said.
Reflecting on his own tenure, Anwar reiterated his stance on language policy, making it clear that while Malaysia must never compromise on Bahasa Malaysia as the national language, the nation must also prioritise English to ensure it remains competitive on the global stage.
“Malaysia as a trading nation must do whatever is necessary, including mastery of languages and level proficiency in languages, because we have to be competitive,” he added.
He also underscored the importance of mastering additional languages, particularly Chinese, which is increasingly becoming a key economic language in the region.
“The Chinese language is no longer just the language of Malaysia’s ethnic Chinese; it has grown in importance as an economic tool in this region. Mastery of foreign languages, especially in an economic context, is vital for Malaysia to remain competitive,” he added.
This came due to the increasing interest of global corporations in Malaysia, including tech giants like Google and Microsoft, and Malaysia’s growing status as a semiconductor hub, with German firm Infineon investing RM26 billion in the country.
“Their decision to invest here shows that Malaysia is moving forward, not just maintaining its current achievements but aiming to reach new heights,” he said.
Anwar stressed the need for federal and state authorities to ensure the country’s youth receive the necessary training to capitalise on these opportunities. — DayakDaily
