KOTA KINABALU: The Federal government should have coordinated with Sabah and Sarawak first before implementing the new policy mandating letters to government departments to be written in Malay.
Former Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said by consulting with both states in advance, the federal government would ensure the smooth implementation of the new policy for the common good.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that government departments and offices should not entertain letters that were not written in Malay, to uphold the national language.
He said letters that were not written in Malay, especially from local companies and universities would be returned.
Anwar had also said empowering the culture of the national language was an integral part of nation building.
On the same day, Sarawak state secretary Datuk Seri Datuk Seri Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki said Sarawak has no intention of complying with the directive from the prime minister to government agencies.
"While it is undeniable that Bahasa Melayu is the national language of Malaysia, and we welcome this new policy, the importance of English proficiency cannot be questioned.
"This is because English, as a global language, is widely used and must be mastered, especially by public servants dealing with foreign countries and students who will explore fields of study in education and subsequently apply it in the workforce," he said.
Salleh, who is also Usukan Assemblyman, made these remarks while speaking at the Excellent Student Award Ceremony 2023 for SMK Pekan Kota Belud held here.
Present were Kota Belud deputy district education offier Laugan Iman, and SMK Pekan Kota Belud principal Junainah Baharudin.
Earlier in his speech, Salleh stressed that concerted efforts, including those of parents, were vital to help realise the country's vision of achieving high-quality international education standards.
Salleh added that various initiatives have been taken by the Education Ministry to achieve this goal, including the introduction of the "Anak yang Baik lagi Cerdik '(ABC) concept which aims to inculcate good manners, morals and integrity in students.
"This concept is also in line with the National Education Philosophy, which aims to further develop the comprehensive and integrated potential of individuals to create a balanced and harmonious individual."