Page 337 - The Guide To Sarawak

THE GUIDE TO SARAWAK 335
native languages, however, are not excluded from official use in Sarawak. English is widely spoken
in Sarawak and remains a compulsory school subject and the principal language of international trade and finance. A large percentage of the population are also proficient in Mandarin, as well as a variety of other Chinese dialects, enabling excellent communications with the world’s most populous business market.
Internal & External Security
Malaysia’s security apparatus is one of the best in the region. It has professional armed forces
who have distinguished themselves in a number of UN peacekeeping scenarios. The armed forces are loyal to the crown, non-political, and have no history of coups d’etat, revolution, mutiny or regime change by military means. The country has firm defence pacts
and agreements in place with major global partners and is widely regarded as
a bastion of peace and stability in Southeast Asia. Malaysia also possesses the best intelligence apparatus in the region, and hosts the Regional Centre for Anti- Terrorism.
Internal security is equally good. A professional police
force is supported by a variety of specialist agencies targeting corruption, intellectual property crime, border security and traffic regulation. Malaysia’s crime rate is comparatively low
by modern standards, and Sarawak’s is amongst the lowest in the country; violent crime is rare, especially against foreigners. Law and order prevails without many of the problems of inner city life found elsewhere.
A Young & Productive Workforce
Sarawak is essentially a very young state, with 69% of the population below 40 years of age. Sarawakians who
Maintaining internal and external security is a priority for Sarawak. Here senior military officers attend a briefing with the former Chief Minister (now Governor).