style="text-transform: uppercase;">Kuching: Graduates failing to secure employment because of their poor command of English have irked Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem.Adenan blamed the education policy which has failed to recognise the importance of the language despite being a developing nation the last 30 years.

"That is why many graduates today are unable to get a job because they cannot speak English properly.

The government should have emphasised students mastering English and Bahasa Malaysia," he said when closing a seminar entitled "A journey to Merdeka: Sarawak in Malaysia" here on Sunday.

He said Singapore had made English its main language while importance was equally given to Mandarin and the Malay language.

"We have to conduct international trade, in which contracts are drafted in English. Let us be practical.

That is why I say Sarawak must promote English together with Bahasa (Malaysia)."

Previously, Adenan had expressed his concern over unemployment among youths and linked it to the poor command of the English language.

Earlier this year, Adenan had announced Sarawak government's move to adopt English as a second official language.

He reasoned the country could not deny the fact that thousands of graduates were unemployed as they could not speak and write in the language.

Last year, he had also stressed that Sarawak was seeking greater say in its education system because the state wanted to do away with education policy.