BY: ANNE IBRAHIM

In Malaysia, it is basically the Chinese and Indian communities who are the common users of the English language, while many Malays fight shy of being fluent in this language and generally feel more comfortable using Bahasa Malaysia.

There is nothing wrong with using Bahasa Malaysia and every Malaysian should be proud of our national language and make full and wide use of it as it has now become a major regional language in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, South Thailand, South Philippines and Indonesia.

While these facts have caused Bahasa Malaysia to be strongly and widely used among Malays, it is equally important for them to master the English language as it is not just a national or regional language but an international language.

For Malaysians, and especially members of the Malay-Bumiputera community, it is important that they master the use of the English language as it opens the doors to global opportunities and the international educational and business marketplace.

Malays must come to understand and recognize that they are being no less Malay and neither are they bowing to the use of the language of the colonial masters by using English. The fact is it is the English language that has been chosen as the international language.

It is not Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin or Tamil but the English language as the main medium of communication in this world and this is why the Malay government of Malaysia must do more to promote the use of English among Malays.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher