BM classes to woo talent home
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said this would help their children ease into life in Malaysia should they decide to return to contribute their talents towards nation building.
Such a move would also complement the efforts of Talent Corporation, which has been established under the Prime Minister's Department to engage Malaysians living abroad to return to Malaysia.
Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said it had been pointed out to him by Malaysians living overseas that one of the factors that made them uncertain about a move home was their children's inability to converse in the national language.
"Malaysians in London, many of whom have children, had asked me whether they could set up a Bahasa Malaysia school there.
"We can work on it but because it is something new, we need to study the cost implications, how many children will be involved, where it can be held, and teacher training," he told Malaysians in Denmark at a dinner held in conjunction with his visit here for the two-day Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) Conference of Ministers of Education.
This point was also highlighted by a participant during a question-and-answer session with Muhyiddin after dinner.
There are 157 Malaysians in Denmark who have registered with the embassy, of which 12 are doctoral students in technical fields. Those working here are in the engineering, shipping, and oil and gas industries.
Muhyiddin pointed out that Malaysians abroad with teaching skills and expertise could help kick-start the classes.
"The Education Ministry can help provide and train teachers, as well as send over books and other learning materials."
Muhyiddin noted that people in Denmark had an admirable trait in that they gave priority to their national language even though many of them could speak English.
"Here, people are proud of their national language even though they can speak in English. In Malaysia, there continues to be a debate over the use of the English language and our mastery of Bahasa Malaysia.
"We know Bahasa Malaysia is the national language but, at the same time, we also give serious attention to English.
"In this regard, I am proud to converse in Bahasa Malaysia even though I am also proficient in English," he said, to applause from those present.
At the question-and-answer session, Muhyiddin was asked several questions ranging from whether the government would encourage Malaysians to cycle, as most Danes do, to ease public transport woes, to the controversy over nasi lemak being served in school canteens.
He said the debate over nasi lemak was actually not a big issue.
"Some quarters have, however, claimed that the proposal to limit the sale of nasi lemak in canteens was a move to deny Malays their trade. All this should not have arisen.
"This is a health issue. We want to curb obesity among schoolchildren and ensure canteens provide nutritious food.
"Nasi lemak is our traditional food and it is well known worldwide. For me, the dish is not a problem, but we must pay heed to the amount we eat.
"Besides, it is not merely canteen food that contributes to obesity but also food that is served at home, as well as the sedentary lifestyle of children."
In his speech, Muhyiddin shared with Malaysians in Denmark the steps taken by the government to further develop the economy, human capital and infrastructure; improve the education and public transport systems; curb crime and corruption; and build a high-income nation.
On the Asem Conference of Ministers of Education, where he will be presenting a speech on engaging business and industry in education, Muhyiddin said it will give him an opportunity to forge closer educational ties with Europe as well as share with participants the developments in Malaysia.
Asem is an informal process of dialogue and cooperation bringing together the 27 European Union member states and the European Commission with 16 Asian countries and the Asean Secretariat.
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