PM asserts that language acquisition is never a “zero-sum game.”

PETALING JAYA: According to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, learning English and vernacular languages in schools has never come at the expense of Bahasa Melayu.

According to him, the government has never turned down petitions to provide communities the chance to learn their native tongues—as long as the national language is also given the proper consideration.

“I have consistently responded “yes” to those requests and held the view that the government ought to encourage rather than scrutinise such advancements. The game is not zero-sum.

At a Vaisakhi Day celebration in Ipoh, Perak, today, he stated, “If I suggest to you now that we should seriously consider teaching Punjabi, too, in school for Punjabi students, it will never be at the expense of Bahasa Melayu because Bahasa Melayu remains the medium of instruction and Malaysians must have a satisfactory proficiency (in the language).”

Anwar added that in order for Malaysia to maintain its competitiveness in the global market and raise the standard of education, people should strive to become more fluent in English.

“Our command of the English language used to be stronger. We’re still rather comfortable, but we’ve fallen short of being regarded as generally well-versed in English. We ought to raise that argument (again),’ he declared.

He exhorted Malaysians to value the nation’s bilingual society and accept Malaysia’s diversity.

“Yes, Bahasa Melayu is available to all, and it is the nation’s soul language, but every community wishes to preserve its cultural legacy.

That’s not a bad thing; in fact, it might be considered a benefit. We are unique in that we have personnel who speak the languages of the people who go here, making it easy for citizens of China, India, or Western nations.

He added, “We should see this as our strength.”