Address Declining English Proficiency Among Malaysians Says Syed Saddiq

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PETALING JAYA: A plan must be carried out to address the decline of English language proficiency among Malaysians so they do not miss out on greater economic opportunities, says Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (pic).
The Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) president pointed out that English is the international language of commerce and trade.
“Proficiency in English is undoubtedly amongst the most important requirements for Malaysians to access opportunities around the world.
“We cannot turn a blind eye to the facts on the ground.
“Proficiency in English is regarded as a crucial quality that companies in Malaysia are seeking when looking through job applications and is very often the reason cited for the perceived unemployability of Malaysian graduates in the private sector,” he said in a Facebook post on Tuesday (March 29).
The Muar MP said the competition for talent, jobs and investment in the coming decades would be increasingly global.
“According to the 2021 English Proficiency Index, Malaysia is ranked 28th out of 112 countries around the world.
“One might look at this rank and be proud that we are ranked 'only' behind Singapore and the Philippines within Asia.
“However, we should remember that the competition for talent, jobs and investment in the coming decades will be increasingly global.
“With a population of only 33 million people, it is crucial that Malaysians are equipped with every possible tool to export innovative ideas, solutions and goods quickly and easily to the rest of the world,” he said.
The former Youth and Sports minister also said Malaysia has a rich tapestry of cultures and languages.
“It is such a missed opportunity for this country to not harness this wealth and heritage to position Malaysia for success on the global stage.
“Malaysian diversity is not just an asset because it helps us make tourism advertisements.
“It is more than just a slogan to say that diversity is our strength,” he said.
Syed Saddiq said an education policy that aims to ensure that all Malaysian students achieve proficiency in at least three Malaysian languages (including Bahasa Malaysia and English) was crucial to breaking down walls and building bridges between communities in Malaysia.
“Education policy, especially policy related to language, has always been a tricky and sensitive issue in Malaysia.
“However, a message that I believe everyone can rally behind is that a multi-cultural, multi-lingual Malaysia is a strength for all Malaysians.
“Regardless of whether you are Malay, Indian, Punjabi, Chinese, Iban, Kadazan or any other ethnic group, building bridges between communities, learning each other’s cultures and languages is not only important for national unity but is also crucial for national development,” he said.
In a move to empower the Malay language, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that Bahasa Malaysia will be used at official government functions abroad when English is not the host country's national language.
He had also said that he would propose to Asean leaders to use Malay as Asean’s second language.
The government would also make it compulsory for foreign students to learn Bahasa Malaysia, he had said.
Syed Saddiq said while he welcomed the effort to strengthen proficiency in Malay, he was worried that the proposal was merely for the purpose of rallying up support in an election year, without an actual vision or philosophy for the language in a complex country like Malaysia.
“As a matter of principle, I do not believe there is anything wrong with efforts to strengthen proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia.
“It is part of Malaysia’s rich, diverse heritage that should be celebrated.
“Having said that, I admit that I look on at these developments with slight suspicion,” he noted. - Star

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