Former M'sian PM, Abdulah Wants Arabic Language Education Expanded

KEPALA BATAS (Penang, Malaysia), April 6 (Bernama) -- Former Malaysian prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wants the teaching of Arabic language to be expanded to cover all Muslim students. This was not to burden the Muslim students, he said, adding that the move would instead strengthen their multilingual capability. He added that non-Muslim students, for instance Chinese students, were able to communicate in at least three languages, namely Chinese, Malay and English. "This is a practical approach; in fact, there are students in religious and national schools who are able to master three languages apart from Malay and English," he said, here Thursday. At the event, Abdullah, who is Kepala Batas member of parliament, handed over a cheque worth US$136,222 (RM417,516.26) to 19 SAR and Kafa institutions. Abdullah said Arabic language has now become an important language, and said that knowledge in Arabic would also facilitate the learning of al-Quran. -- BERNAMA