I suppose during the time when Malay was being pushed the feelings of Malay nationalism were different then.  I am not suggesting feelings of Malay nationalism have waned, but I think after 30 years of the NEP that have led to the rise of a strong Malay middle class who are well educated and well traveled, and are less touchy about English as a Colonial hangover, may make changes easier. When I was in secondary school in the 60’s and English was the medium of instruction, most of us were forced to learn the language. Our future depended on English because anyone who failed the compulsory subject failed the crucial MCE and HSC exams. Without the paper qualifications one met a dead end insofar as further education was concerned.

There were by-products of an English schooling. It fostered a sense of esprit de corps among the students from diverse races and forged true national unity. Today when I meet my old Malay or Indian school friends, I forget their race and see them as individuals who shared a common past. True unity is a matter of the heart, and perhaps English being a neutral language was a natural catalyst. It created a level playing field and a new frontier of discovery for young and inquisitive minds. It taught us things we would never have known through our mother tongues. It was like a boat that carried us together in our journey of learning and life itself. As a result, it bonded us, who were from different racial, religious and economic backgrounds. No doubt, my school’s traditions and its teachers had a lot to do with our sound education but the language helped shape the school itself. Today, the need for Vision Schools, lamentations in letters to newspapers and speeches by national leaders of the lack of a cohesive and united Malaysian society tell us we did something right in the past, and I am sure the role of English in the school system was it. 

Language, like custom is a peculiar thing. It originates from a particular country but can be adopted by other people. Many former British colonies have adopted and adapted English into their societies successfully. Singapore is a perfect example. In fact, she has made four foreign languages her own. When people have nothing in common, a common language is often a good unifying factor. Without delving into the pros and cons of British colonialism in Malaysia, I opine English is the best thing the British have left us. But English must no longer be seen as a British thing and our ability in the language as a whole must be prized as an intangible Malaysian asset –almost like a national treasure.  We are proud of our rubber tree, which the British brought over from Brazil and had no problem making it our own. We could do the same with the language they brought us. 

When I went to university in a Western country, I discovered students from Malaysia and Singapore had an advantage over those from other parts of Asia and the Pacific because of their command of English.  Surprisingly, I noticed many Malaysians were able to spell and write better than some local students who could speak better English naturally but were not taught grammar in school. As a result, many native English speakers could not spell and write properly. There is value in keeping the tradition of good English teaching, which the teachers of a past era seemed to know and practised. Whether in the East or West, with few exceptions, language students will only be as good as the teachers. 

To regain our mastery of both spoken and written English, and our lost place under the English-speaking world’s sun, we need to have a new mindset about English. I hope this can be reflected by changes to existing education policies and individual actions.

First, we need to drop the prejudice against English. It is the language of international business and knowledge – the language of first priority.  My children growing up in Australia do not know my mother tongue, but it will not stop them getting a job and pursuing a career, where it matters most. In future, I hope they will learn Mandarin and Malay, not only for official, commercial and cultural purposes but to better understand other people. Some years ago, if one is honest, one must admit there was a ‘knee-jerk’ reaction to English because of the past yoke of colonialism. Hence, Malay as the official language superseded it. Any lingering paranoia against English warrants removal. 

Second, we must make a decision to learn the language despite difficulties and setbacks. It means thinking in the language and using it as often as possible. Practice makes perfect. Twenty years ago my wife and I learned Tamil because I was helping the poor in an Indian squatter settlement.  But we have forgotten much of what we learned because we no longer practise it due to our changed circumstances. But we had to make a decision to learn which got us started. At the moment my priority is to learn Mandarin. It will help me appreciate my ethnic roots and reach out to fellow Chinese. Those poor in English must make a decision to better themselves in the language.

Third, we need to encourage a multi-lingual Malaysia. We do not need to teach all the languages in school but we should provide the opportunity for people to learn languages inexpensively. If we all learned each other’s language, it would help us understand each other better and may bring us closer as a nation. Malaysians do not need convincing on this point, as many are already multi-lingual. I have an Indian friend who speaks better Cantonese than me. I had to learn Cantonese when I lived in Kuala Lumpur. When we are multi-lingual we are better equipped to interface with those who are different and our language skills are valuable assets. 

Fourth, adopt English as our own. After all, the Australians, New Zealanders, Americans, Indians and other former subjects of the British Empire have done it successfully.  We need to stop thinking of English as something foreign when it has been with us for so long, certainly much longer than Macdonald’s, A & W and KFC, which have become popular Malaysian icons.  When Westerners ask me, “Where did you learn to speak and write English?” I answer, “ In school,” and then I ask, tongue-in-cheek,  “what about you?”  English is now a universal language and belongs to everyone. The Americans and Australians, for example, have successfully adapted the language to their own circumstances and cultures. We can, too. The presence of more Asians on international and US television has erased Asian stereotypes in people’s minds. 

Fifth, promote and be proud of our spoken Malaysian English.  We do not all want to sound like ABC or BBC announcers, but we should all learn to speak the English that other people can understand. Whether we sound English or American or Chinese or Indian or Malay or like our favourite pop star is not the point. If we stick to the good rules of grammar and oral English, I am sure the sound produced will be acceptable by most people and in time evolve into a standard Malaysian spoken English. Badly spoken English is when the grammar is wrong and the words are wrongly pronounced.  We can’t avoid accents from the influence of our mother tongues and our environment but if we speak good English, the edge of heavy accents can be smoothened and if they remain they are peculiarly cute, just like Jackie Chan’s broken English. When an Australian asks me, “How are you to die, when they mean today? I reply, “ I don’t know? Do you?”  If they who say, “The rine in Spine falls minely on the pline” are called native English speakers, I’m sure Malaysians can claim the same right, too. 

Finally, we need to change our purview of Malaysians who express themselves through the arts in English. We should support locals who do this. I know several Malaysian musicians who are very good but never got the breaks and recognition because of a limited English market in the country. There are many Malaysian writers who can write good English. Sadly, they are under-recognized because few Malaysians buy and read books. It is time we promote local English writers and artists. Of course, we also need to encourage reading and improve the markets for local efforts. It is one way to encourage Malaysians to express themselves in English and feel confident about it. If Malaysians regard their own creators and performers as mediocre, why shouldn’t the rest of the world? 

The creative and performing arts are a good and effective way of improving and promoting language. There is a wealth to be tapped in our cultures, insights and experiences but Malaysians need to be original, and feel confident about expressing their ideas in English, not just for a local but an international audience. World famous acts like Coco Lee and Vanessa Mae are proof Asians are super talented but need help in marketing their talents. As I get older I realize there is so much in our history that can be converted into works of art eg. novels, musicals, plays, songs etc. but we are not seeing a lot of that and continue to endure stuff from the West, some of which   are poor commercial efforts or are not good for our culture. As I live in a Western country, Western talent and ideas surround me. I feel they could be enriched with some Asian influence. 

We must not think that doing anything in English or using Western forms of expression is ‘aping the West.’ It is a gratuitous comparison. Unless Malaysians can express themselves well in English, they will be psychologically and culturally disadvantaged when competing in an English-speaking world dominated by the Orang Putih. English-speaking societies are generally ignorant of foreign languages and blasé about Asian culture but their loss is our gain.  As Dr Mahathir aptly said, “ Don’t think they will learn Malay to understand us.”  My point: Make English ours because it is an integral part of our culture, our history and us. And when people get the chance to see us, hear us, and read about us they may understand us. If we ascribe to English the priority and importance it deserves, we can expect to see more Malaysians excel in the language again. For the sake of the nation, we should.

Feedback Welcomed!

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