On the one hand, we want to champion for building trade relations with China, but on the other hand, we seem to be afraid that Mandarin is being taught even informally, as can be gleaned from the case in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia ([#1]Students seeking to maintain Mandarin class fear reprisal[/#], March 21).

Is it not encouraging to note that a high percentage of non-Chinese individuals wish to learn the language? When our country aims to promote trade with China, these very personnel would serve to initiate our networking when they have mastered Mandarin.

In a certain town in Sarawak, one particular government secondary school gave an informal notice that they would engage a qualified teacher to teach Mandarin. I believe that they had hoped that this would attract more Chinese students to their school. But alas, when school reopened for many of the transitional and Form 1 students, this Mandarin class became unfeasible for reasons unknown.

If we want to have a share of the trade pie in China, we'd better learn Mandarin for it is the language of their heart.