Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said English is an international language for trade, business and communication.
“English is our second official language and it’s widely used by civil servants and in the state assembly,” he told FMT.
The state tourism, creative industry and performing arts minister said that civil servants should be encouraged to use “good English” instead of being penalised for it.
“Being proficient in English does not make one less Malaysian or less Malay,” he said.
Karim was commenting on chief secretary to the government Zuki Ali’s proposal for the public service department (JPA) to consider punitive measures to enforce the use of Malay in the civil service and government-linked companies.
Zuki said this was in line with Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s announcement that Malay would be used not only within the country but also internationally.
The proposal drew flak from former international trade and industry (Miti) minister Rafidah Aziz who labelled it a “regressive policy”, while another former Miti minister, Darell Leiking, wants Sabah to be left out of such policies.
The G25 group of former top civil servants had also criticised Zuki, stressing the need to recognise the importance of the English language to Malaysia.
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