Dr Annuar Rapaee said Sarawak understood the importance of English, The Borneo Post reported.

“Here in Sarawak, we will never surrender to any form of pressure not to use English.

“We have made a decision and we will continue to do what we believe is right for the people,” the deputy education, innovation and talent development minister was quoted as saying.

Annuar said Sarawak had invested significantly in initiatives to support the use of English in education, including the Dual Language Programme (DLP), despite the lack of federal funding.

“The focus is now on enhancing students’ proficiency through comprehensive programmes targeting the four essential language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking,” he said.

Sarawak’s position on the English language had in the past put it at odds with Putrajaya.

In October last year, the state said it would continue to accept official correspondence written in English from local companies or public and private institutions despite Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s “reminder” not to entertain any letter that is not in Malay.

In June 2022, Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg said the state civil service would continue to use English as the official language alongside the national language, Malay.

His comments were in response to chief secretary to the government Zuki Ali’s statement that he wanted the public services department to look into action that could be taken against those who did not take instructions to strengthen the national language seriously.