SHAH ALAM, Dec 16 — An initiative by the state government to offer free online foreign language classes starting next year is a strategic step toward strengthening human capital and fostering racial unity among Selangor's diverse population.
State executive councillor for rural development, unity, and consumer affairs Datuk Rizam Ismail said the initiative, announced by Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari, aligns with Selangor's demographic reality of a diverse population and the need to master multiple languages in today's globalised world.
Mastering foreign languages like Mandarin and Arabic is increasingly essential for communication, business, and employment, and can provide long-term benefits to the state's residents.
"This free online foreign language class initiative is a very good step because it helps the community become more aware and skilled in various languages, especially in the context of Selangor, which is one of the main drivers of national development," he told Bernama.
Rizam commented on Amirudin's statement on Sunday (December 14), in which he announced that the state government would offer free online foreign language classes starting next year to strengthen multilingual skills and foster unity among the people.
The Menteri Besar said this approach demonstrates the state government's confidence in language proficiency, which enables Malaysia to compete globally.
By offering free classes in Arabic, Mandarin, Tamil, French, German, and Spanish, the state government hopes to make Selangor's residents fluent in at least three languages besides Malay and English.
Meanwhile, Rizam said that Malay will remain the national language and the main language to be mastered by all levels of society, but mastering additional languages is also important for fostering unity and mutual respect for the languages and cultures of other races.
The state government's effort to provide free access to language learning demonstrates Selangor's commitment to developing competitive human capital, in line with the aspiration to make language a medium for strengthening unity.
"When we learn another language, it not only enhances communication skills but also helps to strengthen understanding and harmony in a plural society without compromising the position of the Malay language as the national language," he said.
Meanwhile, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Social Sciences and Humanities Faculty's Centre for Malay Language, Literature, and Culture Studies chairman Associate Professor Maslida Yusof said the initiative reflects the state government's vision in building a united, competitive, and open-minded society.
She said that mastering foreign languages like Arabic, Japanese, and Korean enhances graduates' employability and helps Selangor's youth navigate economic challenges and pursue international career opportunities.
"This initiative also has the potential to bridge the social gap through group training involving various races, even if implemented online," Maslida said.
