KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 — The police will continue upholding Bahasa Melayu as the national language despite a directive for the force to start using English, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said today.
Fuzi’s remark was aimed at detractors unhappy with the move that stems from Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s directive for greater English use and proficiency within the civil service.
“We are not sidelining our national language. This move is just to enhance and improve English command in the force,” he said here after a special meeting with the Integrity and Standard Compliance Department (Jips) (integrity) on corruption.
Yesterday, Fuzi launched the professional communication course and said this drastic step was a day of history for the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM).
He said the police will not only speak in English, but will have to learn to write well too.
When asked to gauge the level of English proficiency in the force, Fuzi rated it as currently “moderate”.
The course to enhance English will be conducted by PDRM’s internal officers, whom he said possess sufficient command of the language.
He added that the force will consider sourcing English language teachers from elsewhere, only if resources within were insufficient.
Over 30 senior officers sat for a written English examination yesterday morning, and the five-day language course kickstarted this morning.
