KUCHING: Civil servants in Sarawak are free to use English without being penalised, says Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

       The Sarawak Premier said it was the state's stand to prioritise both Bahasa Malaysia and English as the latter was an important international language.

       "Sarawak civil servants can use English. I don't know about federal officers because your 'master' is different," he said.

       "As long as I am your 'master', you can use English," added Abang Johari at Yayasan Sarawak's 50th anniversary dinner here on Tuesday (June 7) night.

       Last month, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Zuki Ali called for the Public Service Department to consider punitive measures to enforce the use of Bahasa Malaysia in the civil service.

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       The proposal drew criticism from former international trade and industry minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, the G25 group of eminent Malays and various Sarawakian Cabinet members.

       Abang Johari said English was important for acquiring new technology and knowledge in the digital era and for global communication.

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       "Like it or not, you must have English in order to understand what is going on throughout the world. Many engineering and digital terms are in English," he said.

       He added that the state aimed to produce Sarawakians who were conversant in both English and Bahasa Malaysia.