Kuala lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has stressed that mastery of Bahasa Melayu as a language of knowledge must be strengthened in the country's education system, while also providing students with opportunities to learn other languages that have economic and global value.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar emphasized the importance of maintaining the Malay language as the national language and a unifying element among the people, without undermining the significance of proficiency in English and other languages such as Mandarin, Tamil, and Arabic. He highlighted that one of the primary responsibilities he assigned to the Education Minister over the past three years was to ensure that all children achieve mastery of Bahasa Melayu as a language of knowledge.

Anwar further stated that the mastery of the Malay language should span all streams of education, including national, religious, international, and vernacular schools. He clarified that efforts to strengthen Bahasa Melayu should not be perceived as a rejection of other languages, asserting that multilingual proficiency could serve as a national strength.

He elaborated on the importance of English, noting that if Malaysia aspired to elevate its global standing, proficiency in English must be improved. Additionally, he remarked on the growing significance of Mandarin due to China's economic rise, acknowledging that the perception of the Chinese language has evolved into an essential economic language in the region.

Anwar concluded by advocating for a more open and inclusive approach in determining language-related policies, while emphasizing that the pivotal aspect that cannot be compromised is the mastery of Bahasa Melayu as the core for uniting the people.