English is not the reason why young graduates cannot find jobs. It's not like the rest of the working population are writing and communicating in impeccable English. 99% of Malaysians who mock others for not 'knowing' English write like this:

• "He only tell me he applied for the job"
• "If English also so bad, how can find job"
• "Most of them can not fluent in English"
• "This people's issue is they not qualify for jobs in the today market"
• "Lazy to learn another language means you can not expect employer to take you"
• "He (refering to girl) no need complaint, just go learn first"
• "If communicate with customer, your English skill is important also"
• "We can learn 3 or 4 language, you two also cannot then how come"
• "How you want to respond to customer email...if he don't understand you then business will make loss"
• "Our year-end sales coming soon but how to hire when your English is this level only?"

To put it bluntly, the English issue has been used by bullies and those with a superiority complex to falsely potray certain groups of people in the country as undeserving of jobs and income.

We all know communication has little to do with correct grammar and sentence structures, but more with getting the message across. Especially in Malaysia, where poor English has become so commonplace that 'he don't like it' and 'last time we always go there' are deemed as sufficiently excellent levels of English (as compared to 'yes', 'no' and 'I love you') that you can pass off as an Oxford graduate while earning the rights to patronize non-speakers on their apparent lack of command in the language .

So, unless our young people are applying to enter journalism or take up work that requires production of grade A written work in English, it is a BIG LIE to say that English is what is holding back graduates from getting jobs. It is clearly just a clever reasoning to mask and justify certain discriminative policies.

Those who have been rejected on the grounds of poor English, or who they themselves have decided to withdraw from trying for certain jobs after being discouraged by the same reason, remember that most people polish their language skills as they move up their career ladder. Most people with a basic degree have the ability to absorb new words, improve their grammar and their writing and speaking capabilities with repetitious engagement in an environment where English is spoken and used extensively, so if you can embed yourself in this environment and work hard at improving your vocabulary and sentences, you will find yourself mastering the language over time.

And here's a small tip - most people in the Malaysian corporate sector, even in high positions, are not able to produce good pieces of written work without multiple edits, the use of spell checkers and use of PR services. So, don't let language get in your way and don't let anyone convince you so. Say what you want to say, in whatever little English that you know and put your point across. We need people to get the job done, not talk and write all day.

Anyway, for those who are already in senior management roles but are still struggling with their English despite having to use it at work everyday, I suggest please do something about it apart from mocking others with your half-baked English. We can't be '(in Malay) macam ketam mengajar anaknya berjalan betul' - which translates to ' akin to a crab which teaches its young to walk straight (while it moves only sideways)'. Shame shame-lah!