KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad tonight reminded the people to make use of the English language.
Employing his famous wit, Dr Mahathir said English is not only for the "England" (English) speaking community.
Speaking at the Sultan Abdul Hamid Old Collegians Association (Sahoca) alumni dinner ceremony, here, Dr Mahathir said English is a universal language and a language of knowledge.
"It does not make you less Malay or Malaysian if you speak English. To acquire knowledge, you must learn the English language.
"You need to master the English language everywhere you go as the language is useful.
"In subjects like science and mathematics, they are in English.
"You will impress the world if you know how to speak or have a good command of English," Dr Mahathir said.
Also present at the ceremony was his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.
Meanwhile, he said the government is moving towards reviewing the curriculum plan for schools nationwide to ensure it is dynamic.
Citing an example, he said religious subjects should include the element of values that must be applied in everyday life, thereby ensuring a more holistic character formation in students.
"The school's curriculum schedule will be changed, but religious subjects will remain.
"But, it will not be a whole day period of the (religious subjects) learning session as we do not want students to only know how to recite prayers but lack knowledge in other subjects.
"This means we should provide good education for them and they will graduate with a lot of knowledge in hand after they finish school, rather than become an individual full of drama," he added.