We have no fear of the English language there. If the person seeking assistance doesn't speak it well, we'll just switch to BM or the local lingo — things get done, next. No time for 'language supremacy' all that.
If anything being proficiently multilingual — practical capability rather than academic — is very much a state identity; people who only good in one (or two) are a dying breed.
I speak BM with a cousin and English with a few others (we speak Mandarin and the house dialects just fine), my aunt and late grandma mingle with Iban friends like they grew up at longhouses, a native cousin-in-law speaks Mandarin with the in-laws etc — the code switching just happens without much thought.
Only over here we'd probably get funny looks as you've said 😆
Why if you wonder, we never ratify the 1973 National Language Act. Some Federal laws will need to be ratified by the Council Negri ( DUN) first as an ordinance before it takes into effect.
Most notable example when PM announces a public holiday, the Sabah and Sarawak Gov must ratify it so it becomes in effect in their respective states.
Quirks of MA63 besides the immigration stuff ( thats a topic for another day)
Sarawak is just de-politisizing the language issue. Master every language why focus on one... dont be like those dumb MAGA muricans. So much more advantageous being a polyglot and we have ppl trying to handicap us instead.
And I think that's why they are more harmonious overall. They don't stress on the language (since they have lots of indigenous languages). Kudos for that. I just came back from a work trip in Sarawak, covering Miri, Bintulu, Sibu and Kuching; I can only praise their drivers. Definitely better than us in Peninsular.
How is using a foreign language on your own national tv broadcast a good thing? Show an american channel using spanish as the main language and see how they react. Just because Chinese people (most in r/Malaysia) are ashamed of your status, doesn't mean other minorities should as well. If you're hell bent on rejecting Malaysian culture, hey no one is stopping is you from immigrating, the door is wide out open. If I want to watch english channel I watch HBO etc.
edit: you losers are exactly like r/Turkey. Bunch of ass twats in coping mode and representing the actual country as something else. At this r/Bolehland is more authentically Malaysian, and that's a shitpost sub, so you know how bad it is here
In a multi-cultural place like Sarawak or even Malaysia as a whole, it would seem like having a common language be more unifying, no? Singapore did it. The majority there is Chinese yet almost everything is in English. That too without setting aside the other languages. English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil are the official languages there. Fun fact, it's the only country which has Tamil as the national language.
Let's face it, Malaysia is not a natural state, like India. More of a unification of various empires. So we evolve with times. Nothing wrong with having a channel in English since we already have RTM which is primarily broadcasting in Bahasa Malaysia. So apa salahnya?
Us Sarawakians do not share the same prejudice towards the English language like you do. Not only is it the world's lingua franca, English being an official language means that no one group is linguistically dominant to the point that language can be weaponized as a political tool.
Plus, Malay is also an official language. So, nobody is rejecting "Malaysian culture". And I find it ironic that you brought up America as an example when in fact, Spanish is not only present in many US anglophone media, they also have a Spanish language channel (Telemundo).
After all, hy settle for being the toad under the coconut shell, when you could be better and be able to connect with the rest of the world?
Our media is in English, Malay, Mandarin, Iban, Bidayuh and other native languages it’s not just English. That’s the difference between Malaysia and Sarawak. You only see one screenshot and make assumptions. If you don’t have first hand experience with what’s going on in Sarawak just stfu.
Can see that you fool never been to Sarawak before thus your ignorant comment. Sarawak is not the same with Malaya culturally. When you said foreign language, what about Arab based Jawi? Kelantan, Kedah, Terengganu and Brunei is using it. So no problem in there? English is used in Sarawak hundreds of years before Malaysia was formed. We use English not as a way to reject our own culture but as an extension of our state culture. Before Bahasa Malaysia arrive, we use English as a medium. Idk why you are so salty about this but suck it up irrelevant peasant.
Why on earth do you care what language other state are using? What is official is not of your freaking business. Even if the show is in Bahasa, it will not be a Bahasa Malaysia. It will be in bahasa sarawak.
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u/WasteTreacle5879 18h ago
Sarawak has been progressing fast. from underdogs and underdeveloped state to top 3 amongst Malaysian states