Kuala Lumpur, Jan. 26 -- The opening of the first Vietnamese-language class in Johor Bahru, capital of Malaysia's Johor state, on January 24 marked an important step in preserving the mother tongue and promoting cultural identity among the Vietnamese community in Malaysia.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia Dinh Ngoc Linh said that with more than 40,000 Vietnamese nationals living and working in the country, teaching Vietnamese to younger generations is essential to maintaining links with their national roots.

He noted that similar classes in Kuala Lumpur have already produced encouraging results, with many students becoming proficient in reading and writing Vietnamese. The Johor Bahru programme is the second such initiative nationwide a...