KUCHING: If most Sarawakians can master two or more languages, it will certainly be advantageous for them, said Datuk Richard Wee.
The Sarawak United Association of Chinese School Boards of Management (Sha Dong Zong) treasurer and Kuching Chung Hua Middle Schools No. 1, 3, and 4 Management Committee chairman noted that Mandarin language will gain more prominence and become more important in the near future.
Wee asserted that English has always been the most important universal language in many aspects, such as common usage, literature, scientific technical terms, and so forth.
Whereas Mandarin, he added, has gained prominence in the last 10 to 20 years as a result of China’s rise as a global economic power and as the largest market in the world.
Wee, who is also the newly appointed Yayasan Sarawak board of trustees member, pointed out that those who wish to tap the potential to become global players will be useful if they are able to communicate more efficiently with their Chinese counterparts.
“In any case, those who are able to master additional languages will always be an asset to have and more marketable in the business world,” he said to New Sarawak Tribune.
He made the comments in response to a recent statement by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg who said more Sarawakians should master English and Mandarin in order for the state to become a global player in many fields.
As such, Wee lauded the Chinese-medium schools and said they have always emphasised the importance of science and mathematics.
Therefore, he said, the standard of those subjects is generally higher than the system in the national schools.
He added that the percentage of bumiputera students is noticeably increasing in the Chinese-medium schools.
“There is also a general recognition that the culture and discipline instilled in the education system in Chinese schools are more stressed and deeply rooted,” he said.
