Headhunters agree with Dr M

Wednesday March 2, 2011
Headhunters agree with Dr M
By LEE YEN MUN
yenmun@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: Headhunters are in agreement with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that mastering English will not make Malaysians less patriotic.

Recruitment consultants said Malaysians will lose out in the global commerce game if the nation’s education system fails to emphasise English.

“We agree totally that mastering English will not make Malaysians less patriotic. In fact, it should be the reverse.

“It gives Malaysians the opportunity to extol the many good things about the country in more than one language,” said Malcolm Poole, director of multinational headhunter agency MRI Network Sdn Bhd.

Poole added that more multinational companies are basing their regional operations here.

“Hence, the ability to follow technical and scientific publications in English is essential,” he said.

Consulting director of Career Builders Consulting Sdn Bhd Gopa­lan Nair said even though Bahasa Malaysia has been accepted as a unifying language that promotes nation building, English is important for commerce in a globalised world.

“We should not shy away from it,” said Gopalan.

Kelly Services managing director Melissa Norman described limited proficiency in English as highly detrimental and a handicap in business.

“Mastering another language does not make anyone less patriotic. On the contrary, it helps to widen one’s global perspective and strengthens personal development,” she said.

The headhunters were responding to Dr Mahathir’s statement in The Star on Monday that learning Science and Mathematics in English does not make Malaysians less patriotic.