English language proficiency important in Science, Mathematics - Dr Mahathir

English proficiency in Science and Mathematics is important to ensure that the country is not left behind in the latest scientific fields, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said without English language proficiency the country would fail to develop rapidly, especially in economic terms.

"Nowadays, English has become an important international language and most of the knowledge comes to us in English," he said in his speech at Sekolah Menengah Sains Muar (SAMURA) Alumni dinner here, Saturday.

"It is not that I have no feelings of nationalism or is sidelining the Malay language ...but this is a fact which we must accept, to have a good grasp of these two important subjects, we must master the English language," Dr Mahathir said.

He added that a good command of the international language would also ensure a good job in future.

At the dinner, RHB Banking Group, group managing director and chief executive officer, Datuk Khairussaleh Ramli, a former student of the school, was selected as Icon of SAMURA's Third Decade.