IPOH: Less than 48 hours after announcing that Perak executive councillors and top officials might be taught Punjabi, the menteri besar has received an offer from the Punjabi Education Trust Malaysia (PETM) to teach them for free.
PETM is the Punjabi language education wing of the 103-year-old Khalsa Diwan Malaysia (KDM). KDM is allied to the Union of Perak Sikh Organisations, the oldest Sikh organisation in the country.
The trust operates nearly 40 Punjabi education centres nationwide and is recognised by the government for teaching and promoting the language.
KDM president and PETM chairman Santokh Singh told the New Straits Times yesterday PETM was prepared to offer lessons in Punjabi and Hindi to state government officials.
He lauded Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir's open approach to government staff learning multiple languages to provide better service to the public.
Last Friday, Zambry said all state exco members, advisers and other officials would be required to attend Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin and Tamil classes to help them administer the state better and improve the public delivery system.
The menteri besar was quoted as saying he may also introduce lessons in Punjabi.
"He has certainly ventured into new waters ... and on the part of PETM, we will assist the menteri besar in every possible way," said Santokh.
Zambry said he was "pleasantly surprised" by PETM's offer.
"It shows the Sikh community in Perak is in favour with the new direction taken by the state government in forging close rapport with all communities and improving the public delivery system.
"I am excited with the offer, especially PETM's wish to give the lessons free of charge," he said, adding that he would leave it to PETM to develop the syllabus.
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