JASIN: Vernacular primary schools should improve the grasp of Bahasa Melayu and English among its pupils, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

He said apart from it being the national language, Bahasa Melayu is crucial to strengthening the bond among multi-racial Malaysians while English is important for them to compete and excel in the globalised world.

He said that in the 1970s, Bahasa Melayu and English were only taught when a pupil in a vernacular school reached his third year.

“Nowadays, both languages are taught when the pupils step into the classroom in their first year as their parents are eager for them to be proficient in the languages,” he said after handing over RM50,000 from Orando Holdings managing director Datuk Dr Eng Wei Chun to SJK(C) Yu Hsien in Rim here yesterday.

The event was witnessed by the school’s board of governors’ chairman Datuk Chong Tam On and Jasin MCA chairman Datuk Koh Chin Han.

Dr Wee, who is also MCA deputy president, said efforts are also being made by stakeholders to ensure that pupils in vernacular schools can converse fluently in both languages.

“These parents also send their children to tuition classes to improve their command of the languages,” he added.

Earlier, Dr Wee turned down the offer by SJK(C) Yu Hsien’s board of governors to name the school’s multipurpose hall after him.

Instead, Dr Wee, an alumnus of the school, suggested it be named after the founder, Gan Kim Lian.

-The Star-