KUCHING: The importance and effectiveness of the English language should not be underestimated, said Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn.
The Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister was reacting to Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali’s recent statement that the Public Service Department (JPA) should consider punitive measures to enforce the use of Bahasa Malaysia in the civil service.
“For the Chief Secretary to propose punitive measures (on the use of the language) is short-sighted and ridiculous.
“What is of utmost importance is that the addressees understand whatever that is communicated to them. That’s for efficiency and effectiveness,” he said when contacted by the New Sarawak Tribune today.
Stressing that the civil service should be flexible, Sagah said as it was now, most civil servants if not all were communicating in Bahasa Malaysia.
“So what’s the problem? As far as Sarawak is concerned, the use of English and Bahasa Malaysia is acceptable.
“In fact we are promoting proficiency in English as it is an international language for knowledge, communication and business,” he said.
Recently, Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah also commented on the Chief Secretary’s statement, saying it’s “silly and stupid” to enforce the use of Bahasa Malaysia in the civil service with punitive measures.
“Civil servants should not be penalised for speaking English as the language was used worldwide for business and communication.
“Additionally, English is widely used by civil servants and in the state legislative assembly,” he said.
