BANGI, Jan 8 (Bernama) — Having a good mastery of the English language does not make a Malaysian pro-British or less patriotic, says the wife of the Tunku Mahkota of Johor, Raja Zarith Sofia.
Rather, she said, fluency in English and a good and strong command of it as a language was necessary in the 21st century, whether in daily life, at social gatherings or at work.
“It has nothing to do with being pro-English or pro-British, or with glorifying our British colonial past.
“It has nothing to do with us being any less nationalistic or patriotic,” she said when delivering her lecture entitled “Going Global: The Use of the English Language in 21st Century Malaysia” at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia here today.
Raja Zarith Sofia said she chose to speak on the topic as she felt it was an important and timely issue.
“Last year, we celebrated our 50th year of Independence after having been a British colony since the 19th century.
“In view of this, I suggest Malaysians, especially our young people who are at school and university, be given opportunities and encouragement to learn how to speak, read and write in English,” she said.
She said Malaysians must be able to think on the ability to converse in English as an advantage.
“We don’t have to fear the English language. Studying English as a language won’t change us from being Malaysians to being pseudo-English or pseudo-Americans or pseudo-other native English speakers,” she said.
Raja Zarith Sofia said Malaysians already have their historical and cultural roots within them which would not be taken away unless they were given up willingly.
She said having a good command of English also meant Malaysians would be able to transmit and convey their knowledge about themselves as a society and as a country to people from other countries.
She said this could be done through writing articles, papers, academic and non-academic books and novels about heritage, cultures, religion and arts.
“We can also share and exchange our views about national and world events with foreigners who use English as we do, that is, as a means of communication and as a global language,” she added.