URBAN MALAYS SHOULD LEARN MANDARIN: MINISTER

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 (Bernama) -- Information Communication and Culture
Minister Dr Rais Yatim said Malays, especially in towns, should take
up the Mandarin language for them to be more effective and better leaders.

Rais said it was very competitive in urban areas and the grasp of Mandarin
will add value to the Malays' future struggle.

"Besides English, I feel Malays will be more capable and ready and able to
lead effectively as Mandarin is a part of commercial language.

"In villages we need not speak Mandarin but in towns we need to be
competitive," he said after launching 'People's Champion Programme (Program
Juara Rakyat)' at the Bukit Bintang parliamentary constituency level at the
people's service centre here Sunday.



Rais said Malays needed to have the spirit to communicate in other languages
and should not be humbled as the present situation showed that the grasp of
various languages would enhance a person's capability and that was a move in the
right direction.

"We know Bukit Bintang's history and it is one of a town and of a city. But
Malays should not be pessimistic or feel humbled...rather they should show
spirit to communicate and not be uneasy to strive to speak in more than one
language," he said.


-- BERNAMA