KUCHING: Sarawak is going global and is opening herself to the world, therefore the use of English is critical, especially in communication, trade and commerce, says Datuk Snowdan Lawan.
The Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts highlighted that English has been embedded in Sarawak’s society and school syllabus for centuries, since the Brooke era and later, the British administration.
“It would be difficult to erase what has been practiced and embedded in our multiethnic and multilingual society by dictating to terminate it abruptly,” he said in a press statement on today (Oct 27).
Additionally, he assured that government agencies in Sarawak will continue to communicate officially in English.
Snowdan was responding to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s reminder to federal government agencies not to entertain letters written in languages other than Malay.
“Our late Chief Minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem, and in June 2022, our Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg also assured us that the state’s right to use English is protected under Article 161 [3] of the Federal Constitution, and it is aligned with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) terms,” said the Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth chief.
Snowdan added that Sarawak chooses to be exempted from this type of broad ruling.
Therefore, he stressed that the existing practices in communication by using English currently shall be maintained.
