The Umno Supreme Council member said English was an important medium of communication, especially in anyone’s career path.

“This is especially the case in the private sector. Aside from Bahasa Malaysia, if we emphasise English as a second language in schools, the younger generation will be successful not just in Malaysia but also at the international level,” the Bena Nusa Foundation chairman said today.

This foundation was established to reduce urban poverty and improve education for children among the urban poor.

Speaking at the launch of the Community English Language Learning (CELL) for youths in Kampung Pandan at the SMART College, Johari applauded the attempt to provide free English and computer training for the community.

SMART College collaborated with the department of skills development (JPK) under the human resources ministry as well as a few security services companies to start the corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme to benefit underprivileged youths.

This programme was part of the National Dual Training System (SLDN) initiative of the government, with students attending classes and receiving real-life industrial training for free.

SMART College’s chief executive officer Anand Pon said they aim to do their best to train students to become useful members of the community.

“Not only do we enhance their language skills through theatre and other public speaking training, but we also provide them with some basic IT skills, by teaching them computer programming, among other things.

“These computers were obtained from the community. In return, the community’s youths get the training for free,” he added.

The college has successfully organised many CSR initiatives such as SMART-Youth Movement, SMART-PPR and SMART-CERT.