PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia must strengthen mastery of Bahasa Melayu (BM) while improving English proficiency and providing opportunities for students to learn other languages, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Speaking at the Education Ministry’s monthly assembly on Tuesday (July 28), he said BM must continue to be elevated as the country’s language of knowledge.
“The importance and priority of Bahasa Melayu must be upheld. The quality of mastery of the language must be improved. It must become a language of knowledge,” he said.
At the same time, Anwar said Malaysia must also improve English proficiency if it wants to raise its standing as a developed nation.
“If Malaysia wants to be elevated as a great nation, mastery of the English language must be improved,” he said.
Anwar also said there should also be room for students to learn additional languages, including Chinese, Tamil, Arabic and French.
He said the importance of language learning has changed alongside global economic developments, particularly with China’s growing economic influence.
“Fifty years ago, when we talked about Chinese language education, including during my time (serving as) the Education Minister, it was a period of transition.
“People talked about the Chinese language as something demanded only by Chinese children in Malaysia.
“But now, when we talk about the Chinese language, it has become an economic language — an important language in the region. Therefore, we must be open,” he said.
However, Anwar stressed that expanding opportunities to learn other languages should not come at the expense of Bahasa Melayu.
“There is absolutely no intention for us to undermine the language,” he said.
Meanwhile, Anwar said Malaysia’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) transformation has progressed rapidly over the past three years.
He said TVET, despite having been introduced decades ago, had seen one of the fastest and most significant shifts in recent years.
