Kota Kinabalu: To enhance their ability to serve and communicate better with the growing Chinese community in the region, a group of dedicated Customs staff had successfully completed their Chinese language course (HSK) level 1 at Confucius Institute, Universiti Malaysia (CI@UMS).
“Over the past three months, a selected group of custom staff personnel eagerly immersed themselves in learning the complexities of Mandarin at the Confucius Institute,” said Professor Chong Kim Phin, Director of Confucius Institute, UMS.
Ten personnel of the department passed all the requirements for the course and received their certificates from CI@UMS recently in a brief ceremony which was held at the Sabah Customs building in Kota Kinabalu,” Prof Ching said.
The Chinese language course, conducted by professional teacher Ming Hao from Confucius Institute UMS, encompassed a comprehensive curriculum, focusing on basic conversational fluency, cultural understanding, and specific terminology relevant to Custom procedures, according to Prof Chong.
Participants actively engaged in language exercises, role-plays, and interactive discussions, enhancing their vocabulary, pronunciation, and comprehension skills, he noted.
“Throughout the course, the staff turned students showed remarkable dedication and perseverance, attending classes outside of their regular work hours. Their commitment to mastery of Mandarin was commendable, demonstrating their genuine desire to improve communication channels and foster stronger ties with the local and overseas Chinese community,” Prof Chong said.
“This endeavour aimed at equipping the students with the necessary linguistic skills to better serve the needs and concerns of Chinese visitors, residents, and nationals seeking assistance from Customs authorities,” he added.
Prof Chong expressed his admiration for the participants' unwavering commitment, stating: "It is heartening to witness the dedication and enthusiasm shown by these Customs members.
Their decision to invest time and effort in learning the Chinese language demonstrates their sincerity in building stronger connections with the Chinese community and fostering a more inclusive society."
Edward Justion, the Deputy Director of Customs Department of Sabah, congratulated the participants on their achievement, emphasising the importance of effective communication in the Customs sector.
"The completion of this Chinese language course equips our Customs staff with invaluable skills that will enable them to provide improved services to our Chinese-speaking population, contributing to a more seamless and welcoming experience," said Justion.
The successful completion of the Chinese language course marks a significant milestone, not only for their staffs but also for the community at large.
A multilingual workforce is crucial for addressing language barriers and ensuring efficient service delivery, particularly in a diverse and multicultural society.
CI@UMS will continue to offer HSK level 1 classes to the Customs Department and HSK level 2 to those who had pass the level 1.
The Institute is dedicated to provide language and cultural learning opportunities to individuals and organisations, facilitating cross-cultural understanding and cooperation.
