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THE Ministry of Education must intensify its efforts to strengthen English language proficiency among Malaysians, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, citing the language as critical to the nation’s global competitiveness.
"We must accept the fact that English language proficiency is extremely important. This means the Ministry of Education must redouble its efforts to enhance mastery of the English language," he said during his address at the AmBank Group’s 50th Golden Jubilee Dinner in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
At the same time, Anwar reiterated that Bahasa Melayu remains the national language and must be defended as a unifying force for the country.
"I cannot accept Malaysians who are not proficient in the national language. It is our language, and we must master it well," he stressed.
The Prime Minister emphasised that Malaysia’s success as a nation is contingent upon inclusive policies that embrace all communities regardless of race or background.
"This country will only succeed if we have a clear policy and direction to embrace every Malaysian, so that they feel protected and valued. With that, we can endure as a nation grounded in compassion for all its people," he said.
He added that multilingualism should be encouraged and there was no reason to marginalise any efforts to improve proficiency in other languages.
"There is no reason why we should neglect or obstruct anyone from improving their command of English, Chinese, Tamil, Arabic or French," Anwar stated.
The remarks form part of a broader theme in Anwar’s recent public addresses, including during his working visit to China, where he advocated for equitable global governance and inclusive development models.
While in China, Anwar endorsed President Xi Jinping’s proposed Global Governance Initiative, describing it as "a multilateral framework rooted in equality and mutual respect" between nations of all sizes.
"There are elements of humanity and the right values in this initiative. Not many world leaders speak of civilisation, respect, and shared prosperity," Anwar said in an interview with CGTN’s Zheng Junfeng.
He noted that ASEAN, China’s diplomatic platforms, BRICS, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) all contribute to balancing geopolitical tensions and protecting nations’ economic interests.
At the SCO Plus Summit in Tianjin, Anwar further called for renewed confidence in multilateralism. "Trust in multilateralism must be strengthened and restored," he urged.
In a separate engagement, Anwar advised newly appointed Malaysian diplomats to continue strengthening strategic relations with their host countries, particularly in driving two-way trade and attracting high-quality foreign investment.
"May they shoulder this responsibility with full dedication and excellence," he wrote in a Facebook post following a courtesy call from the seven diplomats, who received their credentials from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim on 4 September.
The new envoys include Datuk Wan Zaidi Wan Abdullah (Thailand), Datuk Syed Mohamad Bakri Syed Abdul Rahman (Saudi Arabia), Datuk Yubazlan Yusof (South Africa), Datuk Mohammad Ali Selamat (Brazil), Mohamad Razdan Jamil (Germany), Haznah Md. Hashim (Spain), and Datuk Azri Mat Yacob (Poland). - September 10, 2025