Don’t look down on rural S’wakians, many speak English
COMMENTS by Theantdaily readers
Evelyn Yee: Jimmy Adit, well written article with facts. My visits to Miri the past few years tell me Sarawakians apparently prefer to speak in English because not knowing which language to use with the common folks there, I started by speaking in BM. They would instead respond in English to my pleasant surprise!
Choon Ted Thian: Please don't look down on rural Sarawakians. Most of them can speak better English than urban people. Most Dayaks can speak good English because most of them are Christians and Christianity and English has better connection. Proud to be Sarawakian.
Richard Blind: On my trip to Kapit which the locals proudly call UK (Ulu Kapit) three years ago, I found myself among good company because English was widely used. In one coffee shop, the old Chinese towkay was able to converse in English. We were later joined by a Dayak in his 60’s who also spoke in English. Even the boatman at the Kapit wharf was able to hold a conversation in English. So well done, Sarawakians.
Gee Jakee: Go to any rural Dayak longhouse, all you find are old folks and young kids attending school. Others had already left in search of better opportunities. Those that are blessed with bilingual abilities have the advantage of moving ahead in life.
MDon Cheang: Sarawak was once British colony. And English was then the official state language, until joining Malaysia. Over the last two decades, they fell behind in the language. Give them sufficient time and slowly but surely, Sarawakians will be back on track again.
Connie T Lipau: Correction please! Sarawak never joined Malaysia but together formed Malaysia. We are supposed to be equal partners but somewhere down the road, someone with bad intentions robbed us of our rights.
Benson Ong: English as one of the official languages is not good enough. We need English medium schools for the benefit of our future generations.
Kin Lee: Bravo. You will be ahead of Peninsular Malaysia. We have ministers who cling on to power and they send their children overseas to study at a very young age.
Manohar Chand: English is the way forward. It has a wide vocabulary. Local languages still have many TERMS which are difficult to express and tend to be misunderstood.
Stephen CH Loh: We should consider sending our children to study in Sarawak.
Doner Emmiur: Malaya will be Malaya. Let them rot with their Melayuuuuuuuuuu…
James Warman: Sarawak, if you can be independent, please bring Sabah too.
W Kiong Ang: Johore next, followed by Penang and Selangor.
Cosmas Mojulat: A big salute to Tan Sri Adenan Satem's bold decision in making English as an official language in Sarawak. Sabah should also take similar step. People should not be worried about the MALAY language being threatened because that would never happen. Even our old folks who never attend school could speak Malay very fluently. We just would like to see our children and our community as a whole to be able to master the language. I suppose this would slowly do away with the inferiority complex pertaining to the mastery of English.
Sang Kancil: It's a start. Hopefully Sarawak will lead the way.
Roger 5201: Condescending, to say the least! Sarawak has been doing quite nicely since the days of the White Rajahs, and now they are chastised for wanting to revert to English which has worked well for them. If Perkasa is so adamant on using Bahasa Melayu in Malaya, let them.
Mikey: You are right when you say Perkasa, MTEM and DPMM never help or contribute anything to Sarawak’s progress except to create animosity among Sarawakians. It is good that you can see their agendas. Sarawakians must get rid of the thorns in your flesh. Please tell Malaya/BN/Umno to mind their own business.
Ahgan Lew: Sarawak knows the importance of English and recognises it is the way forward. But West Malaysia still maintains the 'way backward'.
Muhammad Faris: Let them be what they want. It doesn’t mean you gonna fail everything just because you don’t learn English. Look at Japan. They don’t even learn English but they are very advanced.
Rahman Yii: Japan has a culture of excellence, Malaysia has a culture of entitlement. So if BM can bring us to that kind of level of excellence in science and technology, I'm sure we are all for BM. But sadly BM still have to cetak rompak words from English heavily.
Poh Sang Yee: Those who are wise enough would say English is also very important to communicate in this modern world of IT. I am unable to handle it and regret because of my poor English.
Albert Phan: Wish Putrajaya would follow Sarawak. But I think they are afraid to do so.
Teik Lee: The ultra-Malays are upset because they assume that Sarawak belongs to them. They have conveniently forgotten that they are only a part of Malaysia. Anyway these guys will never go far with their inferiority complex. Feel so sorry for them.
Prashant Ram Naidu: Everyone should master English as it plays an important role nowadays. At the same time, it’s a disgrace if you can’t master the National Language and things get even worse when Bangla speaks better Bahasa Melayu.
Pc Kok: Sarawak may have to blacklist Perkasa members since there may be high risk if they vandalise English-language signboards.
Jihep Atoi: English is good for business and with the conclusion of the TPPA with the US and other countries, a decision like this is the way to go.
Lawrence Li: People are not born to be English or computer literate. Adenan did say that this is a trial or a head start only. Sarawak won't fully use English until its people are ready. Those with no English background are given the chance to learn. Thus for those to say that Adenean shouldn't do this, you are asking us, Sarawakians, to stay "backward".
Michel Wright: One up for being open minded and thinking globally.
Fizzi Then: If one cannot speak English, then learn. Why stop others to advance further?
Manonmani Anandan: Good luck Sarawakians. Follow your hearts.
Mike Low Hoy Boon: Let them make noise. Empty vessels make the most noise. Let us move forward.
Muhammad Faris: Let them have their way. We have ours.
Lim Kooi: Do what you have to do, not what others want you to do.
Harry Ooi: Go ahead Sarawakians. Do what is best for your people. Here they are stopping their people from progressing.
Ho Swee Poh: English is a universal language and not a katak dibawah tempurung language!
Helen Powers: Go for it.
Andy Anderson: Proud to be Sarawakian
These comments are in response to the article Sarawak has decided English is the way forward published on Nov 24.
-The Ant Daily
