Kuala lumpur: The status of the national language will not be compromised even as the government intensifies efforts to strengthen English proficiency among Malaysia's workforce to ensure graduates and workers remain competitive globally, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan said. He emphasized that Bahasa Melayu remains the national language and continues to be used in official and administrative affairs, while English serves as an international lingua franca that facilitates access to global knowledge, technology, trade, and higher education.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ramanan highlighted the critical role of English proficiency, particularly for new entrants to the workforce, in navigating a globalized, high-technology work environment driven by automation and artificial intelligence (AI). This was articulated during the oral question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat, where Ramanan responded to a query from Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (PN-Kuala Kangsar) regarding the Ministry of Human Resources' (KESUMA) stance on the importance of English proficiency and efforts to enhance its use within the national workforce.
On measures to strengthen language skills, Ramanan noted that KESUMA has integrated English-language elements into the National Occupational Skills Standards (NOSS), particularly in globally oriented sectors such as information and communications technology (ICT), aerospace, automotive, and professional services. Furthermore, skills training institutions under the Department of Skills Development (JPK) have been enhanced through the expanded use of bilingual reference materials, the conduct of presentations and assessments in English, as well as the provision of more than 2,000 free courses related to English, professional communication, and workplace skills.
In response to a supplementary question from RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) on the importance of learning other languages such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and German, Ramanan stated that while the primary focus remains on English due to its widespread use in trade and corporate management, proficiency in other languages is strongly encouraged.