British rule over Malaya began in the 18th century and lasted until 1957 Merdeka. In 1953 I got a scholarship from PWD which is currently called JKR to study civil engineering in the KL Technical College which is currently known as UTM. ​

After graduation in 1957, I started working for PWD. 

The above photo shows that I shook hand with the first Agong at the opening ceremony of the Indoor Stadium which is nearby the Stadium Merdeka where our first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman declare Merdeka! Merdeka! ​Merdeka!

My old college mate, Ng Eng Hean (center of photo) did the structural engineering design and I was one of the construction site supervisors. My boss was Micheal Canavan, an Irishman. He was standing 2nd from the right of the photo. 

At that time, I did not study Bahasa Melayu before. But I was required to pass a simple Bahasa Melayu test.

I was given 5 simple short sentences to translate to Bahasa Melayu. First one was "Fire! Fire! Call the fire bridage!". My Translation "Api! Api! Panggil kereta api!" The examiner must be laughing and he failed me. After working for 5 years, I left the civil service to become a business man. 

In Malaysia only mathematics and science are taught in English and all the other subjects are taught in Bahasa. If Malaysians are more fluent in English, its economy should improve faster.

In today's world, multilingualism is becoming more and more important. In addition to opening up employment opportunities, being able to speak a foreign language helps to make a real connection with people and to know more about diverse cultures, places and lifestyles. The more proficient you are, the better you can express yourself.

Out of the 7,151 spoken languages in the world today, why choose to learn English? 

As the third most widely spoken language in the world, English is widely spoken and taught in over 118 countries and is commonly used around the world as a trade language or diplomatic language. It is the language of science, aviation, computers, diplomacy and tourism. Last but not least, it is the language of international communication, the media and the internet. 

Whether it is for professional or personal reasons, understanding the importance of English will help you reach your goals. Here are a few reasons why you should keep learning and practising your English language skills.

1. English is the Language of International Communication

Although English is not the most spoken language in the world, it is the official language in 53 countries and is spoken as a first language by around 400 million people worldwide. But that’s not all, it is also the most common second language in the world.

According to the British Council, by 2020 about two billion people in the world will be studying English. Therefore, it is highly likely that if you meet someone from another country, you will both be able to speak English. It gives you an open door to the world and helps you communicate with global citizens.

2. English gives access to more entertainment and more access to the Internet Nowadays, many films, TV shows, books and music are published and produced in English. By understanding English, you won’t need to rely on translations and subtitles anymore. By accessing these media, you will also continuously improve your English listening and reading skills.

English is currently the language of the internet. An estimated of 565 million people use the internet every day and about 52% of the world’s most visited websites are displayed in English. Therefore, learning this language gives access to over half the content of the internet, which might not be available otherwise. Whether it is for fun or for work, if you understand English, you will be able to exchange information with more people online and use many more materials.

3. English makes it easier to travel

As highlighted before, since English is spoken as a first language in 53 countries and as a second language in over 118 countries, learning the language makes it much easier to travel anywhere. 

Indeed, airport announcements, train timetables, emergency information and street signs are often available in English, including in countries where the native language uses a different type of alphabet. It goes without saying that, when travelling to a country where you don’t speak the language, you are practically guaranteed to find someone who understands at least some English.

4. English can make you ‘smarter’

Learning a foreign language enhances your cognitive and analytical abilities. Learning a new language can be difficult and it involves a lot of mental exercises. Research from a 2012 Swiss

Study shows that learning a new language changes the brain structures, impacting the parts of the brain responsible for memory, conscious thought and it can make you more creative. In the long term, bilingualism can keep the brain strong and healthy into old age and supports concentration and memory skills. On an individual level, it improves personality and increases sense of self-worth. In simple words, learning a foreign language makes the brain stronger and more versatile.

Learning English is not only useful, but it also gives a lot of satisfaction and making progress will make you feel great.

In Malaysia only mathematics and science are taught in English and all other subjects are taught in Bahasa. If Malaysians are more proficient in English, Malaysia would have been classified as a Developed Nation, like Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea. All these 3 countries did not even have timber to build their houses. Malaysia was the largest producer of tin, rubber and palm oil. Moreover, we have Petroleum.