The Election Commission (EC) proposal for future candidates to have a credit in Bahasa Malaysia in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia

suppadmin | May 4, 2015

The Election Commission (EC) proposal to future candidates either in the Parliamentary or state assemblyman to have at least a credit in Bahasa Malaysia in their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) did not auger well in Sarawak as most of the Sarawakians speak fairly good English.

Sarawak United Peoples’ Party Secretary General, Dato’ Sebastian Ting said the consideration for such proposal had to be studied carefully as this was not stated under the Federation Constitution or the Election Commission Regulations. Language, said Ting has never been a problem for those in Parliament and urged the EC to be mindful of the 18 points for Sarawak and 20 points for Sabah as contained in the Malaysia Agreement when Malaysia was formed in 1963.

“In Sarawak, this is a different ball game for us. We still use English in the State Legislative Assembly and also in our official letter to Sarawak government Departments. We are indeed happy to note that as a whole Sarawakians are proud to be able to speak English well and the standard is above the national level,” he added.

Pointing out that SUPP is not against the official language, Bahasa Malaysia, Ting said that Article 161(5) of the Federal Constitution provides that “notwithstanding anything in Article 152, in the State of Sabah or Sarawak, a native language in current use in the state may be used in native courts or for any code of native law and custom, and in the case of Sarawak, until otherwise, provided by enactment of the Legislative, may be used for a member addressing the Legislative Assembly or any committee thereof”.

Similarly, he said Article 26(8) of the Sarawak Constitution provides that “for a period of 10 years and thereafter until the Legislature by law otherwise provides, all proceedings in the Dewan may be in the English language, and subject to the standing orders of the DUN, members may use any native language in addressing the Dewan”. The 18 points agreement, added Ting, was made by our past leaders to protect the rights of Sarawak and the people of Sarawak and therefore this must be respected at all times to uphold the true spirit of the formation of Malaysia.

Meanwhile, SUPP Youth Chief, Tan Kai shot down the proposal saying language should not be a barrier to the candidate.

“This is politic, not academic. The requirement of good politician is very subjective. Some may suggest that those with law background is better, but in China, most of them are Engineer. Other said a vocal politician is better but there are people who said a hardworking one is good enough and not to talk to much,” he pointed out.

In Sarawak, he added, all the while our official language is English and as the SPM examination was only implemented in late 1960s, a number of people were not fluent in Bahasa Language.

“I think politic is politic, all Malaysian citizens are eligible to be a candidate except if he is a bankrupt or have a criminal case, this criteria is good enough. If anyone wants to choose a candidate who is poor in BM, then it is his right.

As a Malaysian, I support non-Malays to learn BM and to be able to speak BM in public as this is also part of work in promoting racial harmony and is our obligation as a Malaysian.

But let us not forget, as a Sarawakian, English is also important as it is our official language and an important tool in the international platform,” he said.