Penang - the mastery of English, pre-requisite of Pg's success in the 1970s & 80s

One of the reason why Penangites are able to succeed in other English speaking societies is their command of the english language. Blessed with the first english school in 1816, we were taught English which like the keys to knowledge open up the modern world to us. We are able to absorb and take on what the world has to offer.....we could read books, attend universities and schools and compete with the best in the english world.....some of us did do very well and excel....

But today, the general command of the English had deteriorated to the extent it is no longer the lingua franca of the educated.....even among university students and graduates today. The majority cannot properly communicate in the language.......somebody told me that his american boss in one of the MNCs in Pg commented that in the 1970s when they first started their operations in Pg, they were pleasantly surprised that most of their workers could speak and write good english....and these were school leavers with form 5 or 6 qualifications.....but by the 1990's not even their graduate engineers could speak and write good english........what happened??? he asked.....