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Being multilingual a must in today’s world

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KUCHING: With Sarawak’s multiracial and multicultural society, it is no surprise that more non-Chinese can speak Mandarin.

More Bumiputera parents are sending their children to Chinese schools as well.

Recently, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg urged Malaysians to not only master Bahasa Malaysia and English but also Mandarin.

James Masing

In view of this, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing said for Sarawak to succeed in world business, its people must be multilingual.

“What the chief minister is suggesting is that we cannot be too BM-centric in learning.

“We also need to be conversant in other languages in order to survive,” he pointed out.

He mentioned that English, Bahasa Malaysia, and Chinese are critical for people to compete at international level.

He then said Bumiputera students in rural areas taking Mandarin classes had been going on for a long time.

“Chinese schools in rural areas have a high percentage of Dayak students,” he said.
For instance, 50 per cent of SJKC Hock Lam students were Dayaks, said Masing.

“Even all my four nephews are studying Mandarin in primary school in Bintulu. It is the current trend among the non-Chinese to take up Mandarin in Sarawak today.”

Just like Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, she can converse well in the Hokkien dialect.

When asked for her opinion about the chief minister’s suggestion, Fatimah said: “Bahasa Malaysia is our national language, and English is a universal language, so to only be bilingual is not enough for Sarawak to be competitive.”

She stressed that to be able to attract foreign investors, the human resource must not only have relevant technical and professional skills but also language and communication skills.

“China, for instance, is making investments throughout the world. Therefore, we must prepare our students starting today, so that they can be marketable within and outside Malaysia.”

Johnathan Chai

Federation of the Boards of Management of Aided Chinese Primary Schools Kuching, Samarahan and Serian Division president Jonathan Chai recently also shared that 4,592 students from 56 Chinese primary schools are Bumiputera.

Chai also said its member schools in the rural areas registered as high as 80 per cent Bumiputera students.

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Youth (PBB) chief, Gerald Rentap Jabu, also agrees with the chief minister’s call to master Mandarin.

He said mastering languages like Mandarin, English and Malay gives an added advantage to anyone who aims to be a competitive global citizen.

“In a progressive world like ours, such skills enable us to penetrate and have a bigger reach in terms of learning and opportunities,” he said.

He said the chief minister actually encourages the younger generation to be more prepared and competitive.

Gerald Rentap Jabu

“Sarawak is blessed with an education system not only inclusive to a community but to all, especially in the rural areas,” he pointed out.

Gerald meant that more Bumiputeras are sending their children to Chinese schools.

“With good command of Mandarin our younger generations can study in many good and credible universities in China and experience the lifestyles and economic activities,” he stressed.

He said the understanding of other languages and cultures promotes a better understanding of a diversified and plural society.

“It is able to create tolerance, peace and prosperity, which is the core of Sarawak’s unity.”

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