Topik Bahasa Inggris dan penggunaannya di dunia bisnis dan IT selalu saja menimbulkan kontroversi. Saya kebetulan menemukan artikel berikut ini mengenai keputusan badan ICT di Malaysia.
English is essential if Malaysia is to achieve developed status by 2020′: PIKOM
KUALA LUMPUR, 1 DECEMBER 2009 - Malaysian national ICT association (PIKOM) has urged the government to push for the continued use of English if the nation is to achieve developed status by 2010.
PIKOM chairman C.J. Ang was responding to published suggestions by the deputy minister of education (MOE), Dr. Mohd. Puad Zarkashi, that Malaysians in the private sector should use Bahasa Malaysia and not English in all communications in the private sector and government-linked corporations (GLCs). Ang said: “While PIKOM acknowledges Bahasa Malaysia as the national language, and supports competence in and fluency of Bahasa Malaysia among citizens at all levels in all sectors, industry-wise, there are strong reasons for English to continue to be the language of choice for communication among private sectors, GLCs and government agencies.”
“With the outsourcing industry expecting to recruit 300,000 workers by 2012, encouraging English-speaking citizens is essential, especially in servicing global clients in the US and Europe, where the bulk of the outsourcing business come from,” said Ang. “Some of the much-sought-after jobs in the outsourcing industry are call centre, payroll processing, finance and accounting, all needing English competency.”
“In addition, with the rapid pace of globalisation taking place and high cost of doing business, companies are eyeing the Web as the means to expand business across borders,” he said.
English must be a priority
“The e-commerce industry heavily depends on content that is predominantly in English for success,” added Ang. “Therefore, making English a priority would help Malaysians be more prepared to take on the competition that awaits them.”
“With globalisation, further strengthening of English as the main business language in Malaysia is essential,” he said. “Malaysia needs knowledge workers who are fluent not only in writing letters, technical and business reports and proposals, but also in speaking and making presentations in English.”
“This would help the country adapt well when pursuing further for foreign direct investments and also sits well with the government’s efforts to make Malaysia the centre of learning, especially in recruiting international students from China, the Middle East and Africa,” said Ang. “PIKOM believes there is no other alternative if Malaysia’s vision of being a fully developed and an innovation-led, knowledge-based economy by 2020 is to be achieved.”
Interesting, eh 
