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I'm just being practical in English usage, says Adenan
Published:  Nov 25, 2015 4:45 PM
Updated: 9:49 AM

Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem said he was being practical in the state's emphasis on English as an official language alongside Bahasa Malaysia, adding that “if we do not have a control of English, the country would be left behind”.

“I’m just being practical, that’s all. You cannot deny English is the international language,” he said, adding that he did not think the use of English would sow discord.

“I don’t think so. If we don’t go along with that (English), we will be left behind,” he was quoted as saying by the Boreno Post today.

Adenan was commenting on concerns expressed by Social and Cultural Affairs adviser, Rais Yatim, that the use of English would undermine the use of BM and called on Sarawak to reconsider it as it might sow seeds of discords among the people.

But Adenan disagreed with such a notion.

He said that by emphasising English, he was not saying that it would replace BM as the state would continue to use the national language.

“We can develop both English and BM, and with that, we will be bilingual or even trilingual. I’m not saying (this is) to the exclusion of BM. I’m saying (we should emphasise) BM and English together.”

While he respected the views of critics in the use of English, Adenan said “they have their right to their opinion, as I have the right to mine”.

Better integration

Earlier at the function, Adenan he said that having two national languages was practical as everybody wanted it.

“I don’t care what they say in West Malaysia. It is up to them but it suits Sarawak’s condition. In our state, we don’t only have the Malays, but we also have the Ibans, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu.

“In West Malaysia such as in Kedah, Terengganu, Pahang and Johor, most of the people there are Malays,” he said.

Sarawak's Land Development Minister James Jemut Masing said having a dual language system would not cause disintegration between Peninsular and East Malaysia.

“Instead, there will be better integration. Sarawakians can still communicate with West Malaysians and communicate with foreigners particularly investors and expatriates who are in the state dealing with state projects such as Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE),” he said, adding that being bilingual was not a zero-sum game.

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