Mastery of Bahasa Melayu must remain a key priority in Malaysia’s education system, but students should also be encouraged to learn foreign languages that carry growing economic and global value, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
Speaking at an event with Education Ministry staff on Tuesday, Anwar said the government aims to produce students with a strong national identity through Bahasa Melayu while equipping them to compete internationally through multilingual proficiency.
He said the government has, over the past three years, instructed the Ministry of Education (MOE) to ensure all students, regardless of their school stream, achieve a strong command of both Bahasa Melayu and English.
“Language proficiency must be strengthened, especially Bahasa Melayu as the language of knowledge. At the same time, we recognise the importance of English. If Malaysia wants to become a globally competitive nation, mastery of English must also be improved,” he said.
Anwar added that the government has adopted a more open approach by allowing students to learn other languages, including Chinese, Tamil, Arabic, French and other foreign languages that are becoming increasingly important in the global economy.
He noted that changes in the global economic landscape have made proficiency in certain languages, particularly Chinese, a valuable competitive advantage.
“In the past, Chinese was seen only as the language spoken by the Chinese community in Malaysia. Today, with China’s rapid economic growth, it has become an important language for international business,” he said.
The Prime Minister stressed that promoting multilingualism should not be viewed as undermining the status of Bahasa Melayu.
“I have always been consistent. Bahasa Melayu must be strengthened, English proficiency must be improved, and at the same time we should give our children the opportunity to master other languages. What we will never compromise on is the strength of Bahasa Melayu,” he said.
Separately, Anwar cautioned that new education initiatives involving digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI) and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) must be implemented carefully to avoid widening the education gap between urban and rural students.
He said every education policy should be guided by the principle of fairness, ensuring equal opportunities for all students regardless of their background or where they attend school.
“If we introduce STEM, digital learning and AI without balanced preparation, the gap will continue to widen. Every policy must ensure fair opportunities for students, including those in rural and remote schools,” he added.
