English course for Iskandar Puteri cops

Four-month programme aims to improve better communication with international travellers

The Iskandar Puteri District Police headquarters in Johor, Malaysia, has launched an English Language Learning Course for its personnel in alignment with the government’s push to develop Iskandar Malaysia as a leading investment hub. Twenty-six police officers from various ranks have been selected to participate in the four-month pioneer programme, which began earlier this month. The selected officers will eventually be deployed to tourist attractions and public areas in Iskandar Puteri to assist international travelers.

ACO Rahmat Ariffin, the Iskandar Puteri OCPD, expressed the goal of improving English language proficiency among police personnel to enhance their ability to assist the public more effectively. As the area is situated near the Second Link, an important border crossing, police officers frequently encounter situations requiring assistance to foreigners. By developing a strong command of English, the police hope to reduce potential miscommunication issues.

The English Language Learning Course consists of 90-minute classes conducted every Sunday morning until November. On completion of the course, participating officers will be tested on their comprehension levels before being assigned to their respective work areas, which may include information centers, patrol teams, and traffic units. If successful, the programme may expand to offer courses in other languages such as Korean and Japanese to cater to the sizable Korean and Japanese communities in Iskandar Puteri and the surrounding international universities.

ACO Rahmat highlighted the significance of communication in daily police operations and expressed hope that this initiative would enhance service to the public. He also shared that he had previously taken a French language course.

The English Language Learning Course is organized in collaboration with the Johor English Language Teaching Association (Jelta). Vincent D’Silva, the president of Jelta, explained that the course focuses on helping police personnel develop proficiency in English and explore effective methods of communication. The programme is tailored to the specific needs of the police force, with an emphasis on real-life communication rather than traditional textbook and grammar-based learning. Activities such as role-playing, delivering talks, and handling challenging situations are incorporated. D’Silva stressed the importance of listening and speaking skills as the foundation for language development, while reading and writing skills are considered incidental and can be built upon once a strong foundation is established. The officers will also undergo a speaking and writing examination at the conclusion of the course.