<div dir="ltr"><div style="" id="stcpDiv"><div class="" style="margin-left:220px;margin-bottom:30px"><h2 class="" style="border:medium none">Adenan firm on Sarawak’s English policy, non-Muslim use of ‘Allah’ <br></h2></div><div class="" style="width:620px;margin-right:0px;padding-left:39px"><div class="" style="margin-left:5px">
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<p>
<span class="" style="float:left;width:620px"><img alt="On November 18, Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem announced the adoption of English as one of the official languages in the state government administration. ― File pic" src="http://www.themalaymailonline.com/images/sized/ez/adenan_satem_0309b_620_413_100.jpg" style="float: left;" height="413" width="620"><span class=""><br></span></span></p><p><span class="" style="float:left;width:620px"><span class="">On
November 18, Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem announced the
adoption of English as one of the official languages in the state
government administration. ― File pic</span></span>KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 —
Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem has insisted on standing by
the state’s policy on adopting English as its second official language
as well as the use of the Arabic word “Allah” by non-Muslims when
referring to their God.</p>
<p>
According to <em>The Star</em>, Adenan said that Bahasa Malaysia will
stay the main language in Sarawak but added that he did not see why this
should stop the administration from improving English proficiency.</p>
<p>
“Whether they agree with me in Semenanjung (peninsula) or not, I don’t
care,” the English daily quoted him saying yesterday during a ceremony
to hand over native land titles to residents in the township of Serian.</p>
<p>
“I made English the second language in Sarawak. Of course, Bahasa
Malaysia is still the main language. We agree and have no issue with
that.”</p>
<p>
“But what is wrong with us also being proficient in English? It’s the
language of science, learning, literature, technology, business,
research, communication and international relations,” he added.</p>
<p>
At the state civil service day gathering on November 18, Adenan
announced the adoption of English as one of the official languages in
the state government administration.</p>
<p>
The decision was followed by criticism from Malay leaders in peninsular
Malaysia, who said it would worsen the urban-rural divide and alienate
those in the state’s interior.</p>
<p>
On the state policy to allow non-Muslims to use the word “Allah”,
Adenan noted yesterday that there were more non-Muslim Bumiputera in
Sarawak than Muslims, and that he would not interfere with how they
choose to practise their religion.</p>
<p>
“You can use ‘Allah’ any time you want. No problem. Just use it with respect,” the daily quoted him saying.</p>
<p>
“I will not tell you how to practise your religion. I am a Muslim and I try to be a good one.”</p>
<p>
“But I will not tell my fellow Christian friends how to worship. It is their business,” he added.</p></div>
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<a href="http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/adenan-firm-on-sarawaks-english-policy-non-muslim-use-of-allah#sthash.tqiA7xDA.dpuf">http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/adenan-firm-on-sarawaks-english-policy-non-muslim-use-of-allah#sthash.tqiA7xDA.dpuf</a></div><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature">**************************************<br>N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to its members<br>and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner or sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members who disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal, and to write directly to the original sender of any offensive message. A copy of this may be forwarded to this list as well. (H. Schiffman, Moderator)<br><br>For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to <a href="https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/" target="_blank">https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/</a><br>listinfo/lgpolicy-list<br>*******************************************</div>
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