A request has been issued to the Federal Education Minister, Fadhlina Sidek, to present a proposal to amend the Education Act of 1996, ensuring that every Malaysian student attains proficiency in both Bahasa Malaysia (BM) and English. Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation, and Talent Development in Sarawak, Datuk Dr. Annuar Rapaee, emphasizes the need for such a amendment, expressing concern that shifts in the federal government or Education Minister may lead to changes in priorities and policies. To avoid such disruptions for the benefit of the younger generation, he urges the Education Minister to introduce the amendment in Parliament, making it mandatory for all Malaysian students to be multilingual, with expertise in both BM and English, along with proficiency in their respective mother tongues.
Fadhlina emphasized the importance of enhancing the standard of Bahasa Malaysia (BM) while also acknowledging the need to improve English proficiency, particularly in terms of the quality of its instruction. Fadhlina was quoted saying that there is no need to wait until the 2027 school curriculum to start mastering English, and the process should commence immediately. Dr. Annuar views Fadhlina's announcement as a positive step toward decentralizing some decision-making authority in education to Sarawak. He highlights that Section 17 of the Education Act 1996 mandates the use of the national language in all educational institutions except national-type schools, while Section 28 empowers the minister to establish national schools and national-type schools.
The ministry now acknowledges the significance of the English language, influenced by Sarawak's steadfast commitment to prioritizing English. For instance, the Sarawak government has assured the continuation of the Dual-Language Programme (DLP), where English serves as the medium for teaching Mathematics and Science. Additionally, the creation of five Yayasan Sarawak international schools, spearheaded by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, is seen as a positive move to enhance the use of English through the adoption of the Cambridge University-based syllabus.
