KUCHING: Datuk Jonathan Chai agreed that learning English and Mandarin would help Sarawak develop and become a big player on the global stage.
The president of the Association of Aided Chinese Primary Schools Kuching, Samarahan, and Serian Divisions pointed out that both English and Mandarin were popular mediums of communication in all walks of life, including social, economic, cultural, and political.
Historically, he said, English had been an important international language used extensively in the western world and developed economies.
Meanwhile, he noted that the commercial value of Mandarin had increased dramatically in recent years following the rise of China as an emerging economic powerhouse.
“With that setting, we are well positioned to capitalise on the advantages because both languages are being provided in our educational system through the independent secondary school, Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (SJK) Chung Hua, and in some cases, even our government schools.
“As rightly pointed out by our Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, the Chinese schools offered a high standard of education, especially in subjects like mathematics,” he said to New Sarawak Tribune.
He was asked to comment on a recent statement by Abang Johari that proficiency in these two languages would help the state become a global player in various fields.
“That is why we use English alongside Bahasa Malaysia as an official language in Sarawak. We understand the importance of English,” he was quoted as saying at an event in Kuching recently.
Abang Johari added that Mandarin was equally important as it was one of the world’s major languages.
Chai said Chinese schools were not restricted to Chinese students but open to all, irrespective of ethnicity and religion.
In fact, he said, out of nearly 60,000 students enrolled to study in 223 SJK Chung Hua in Sarawak, over 21,000, or 36 per cent, were non-Chinese.
He asserted the trend of having an increasing number of bumiputra students in Chinese primary schools in Sarawak would continue in years to come.
Chai said Chung Hua schools were popular among bumiputra parents because they wanted their children to master additional languages to have better opportunities in the future in terms of career development.
He added Chung Hua schools were known for their good discipline and committed Boards of Management which monitored the development of the schoosl and ensured a conducive learning environment for the students.
“That’s why you never hear of any dilapidated Chung Hua school,” he said.
