MIRI – Departments and agencies under the federal ministries that are operating in Sarawak are "okay" with using English, Malay and even local ethnic languages like Iban, Kayan, Kenyah, Bidayuh and others for all forms of communication and correspondence purposes.
Federal secretary to Sarawak, Datuk Ahmad Nadzri Mohd Hassan, today said this practice of using multi-lingual communications for official and non-official purposes among government departments and the people in the state is not something strange or controversial.
"This has been going on as usual and there is no problem at all.
“Using English or Bahasa Malaysia (Malay) or even local ethnic languages for communication purposes in federal department and agencies operating in Sarawak has always been permitted," he said. "This privilege is under the special rights of Sarawak within Malaysia."
"We in the federal departments and agencies in Sarawak have interpreters who can accurately translate letters written in English or any local ethnic languages.
"People in Sarawak can continue to communicate and correspond with any government bodies in any languages they feel comfortable with. This practice will continue as usual and there is no controversy," he said when attending an official function in state capital Kuching.
There are dozens of departments and agencies under the jurisdiction of the federal government operating throughout Sarawak. They include the police, military, National Registration Department, Road Transport Department, Customs, Education Department, Health Department, and others.
They have branch offices in all the big cities and towns in this vast state, and even in semi-rural districts.
The recent controversy on the use of English was sparked off by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressing to federal government civil servants to reject letters not written in the Malay language.
In reaction to this, Sarawak state secretary Datuk Amar Mohd Abu Bakar Marzuki confirmed that the Sarawak civil service can use English in official communications.
He reportedly said Sarawak will “not follow the reminder” made by Anwar.
“That does not apply in Sarawak,” Abu Bakar was quoted as saying.
Sarawak Deputy Minister for Local Government, Public Health and Housing Michael Tiang said on October 26 that Putrajaya cannot force the Sarawak government and Sarawakians in general to only use only Malay for official letters to any government agencies or ministries.
He said that Sarawak has the right under the Federal Constitution to use both English and Malay as official languages.
He said Anwar’s directive does not apply to Sarawak and Sarawakians, and that English has always been used prominently in Sarawak.
The previous chief minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem, when he was still alive and still helming the chief minister post, had once blasted the Federal Government for insisting on forcing all and sundry to only use BM for official events and official communications. – The Vibes, November 2, 2023
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