KUCHING: Without English – an extremely important global language for modernisation – we will not die but will see retardation in our progress, says Datuk Peter Minos.
The political veteran said Sarawak clearly and openly wants to master English because the state badly and genuinely needs it to catch up with modern progress and development and to have a better Sarawak and better life.
He said this following a pugnacious statement from PAS (Malaysian Islamic Party) president Abdul Hadi Awang that said those pushing for English are those stuck in Colonial mindsets.
Hadi pointed out that those who encourage the use of English at the expense of the Malay language are doing so because they are still trapped in the colonial mindset.
“Now I know why PAS is a backward political party with outdated ideas.
“If the PAS leader and PAS plus Kelantan want to continue to be backward and be left behind, that is their right and choice,” he told New Sarawak Tribune yesterday.
Minos then said there is no point arguing with PAS people. Let them be, he said. It is their choice to be anti-English and we have none of it.
Our state leaders have made a very good and wise decision in adopting English alongside Bahasa Malaysia and that the people have given full support to the move, he pointed out.
Sarawak is not having that colonial mentality, as being said by PAS, he stressed adding that English is a vital language of modern progress and we are just being practical and realistic.
“There is nothing colonial about that. We are fed up with the arguments, words and ideas of the anti-English groups in the peninsular.
“They are so retrogressive and so backward, but if that’s what they want to be, so be it.
“We live after all in a free democratic world. We in Sarawak have our free choice just as those in the peninsular,” Minos said.
