KUCHING: Sarawak is not going against national policy in its decision to use English along with Bahasa Malaysia for communication, says Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The Sarawak Premier said while Bahasa Malaysia was an official language in Sarawak, the state's right to use English was protected under Article 161(3) of the Federal Constitution.
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The Article provides that the use of English for official purposes in Sabah and Sarawak cannot be terminated by an Act of Parliament unless the Act or its relevant provision has been approved by an enactment in the state legislature.
"This means we can continue to use English. It doesn't mean that we are against the national policy on using Bahasa Malaysia. I have to make this clear.
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"We follow the national policy but we also have the right under the Constitution to use English," Abang Johari said when opening the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) triennial delegates' convention here on Saturday (June 18).
Earlier this month, he had said civil servants in Sarawak were free to use English without fear of being penalised, after Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali called for the Public Service Department (PSD) to consider punitive measures to enforce the use of Bahasa Malaysia in the civil service.
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Abang Johari said Sarawak was being practical in using English as it was moving into the digital and hydrogen economy, with many technical terms in English.
"English is also important for communication when travelling overseas. Imagine if I had spoken in Bahasa Malaysia in Rotterdam," he said, referring to his keynote address at the World Hydrogen Summit in the Dutch city last month.
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Abang Johari also called on PBB to be ready for the next general election.
"We must continue to work hard and be humble. If we work together in unity with the other component parties in Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), we can sweep all 31 seats in the parliamentary election," he said.
He added that PBB welcomed youths aged 18 to 28 years into the party and contribute to serve future generations.
"We were not afraid when the voting age was lowered to 18 years, because we know the 18-year-olds are with us," he said.
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