KUALA LUMPUR: A shy kampung boy before he joined the police force, Chief Inspector Mohd Ashril Md Johar had always been interested in the English language, but never got to speak it well.

He admits to being "scared to speak English for fear that people will laugh at my mistakes".

Listening to him yesterday, one would never have guessed that he had once had trouble pronouncing words and constructing sentences.

Ashril was one of 31 policemen from the Bukit Aman Narcotics Department who "graduated" from the English Proficiency programme organised by the New Straits Times Education Unit (NIE). The three-month programme was aimed at teaching participants proper grammar, public speaking skills, writing skills, and public relations.

At the closing ceremony yesterday, participants delivered speeches on issues such as the petrol price hike, drug mules and general health.
The guest of honour was Federal Narcotics Department Assistant director of Enforcement and Prevention, ACP Jamaluddin Kudin who was impressed by their English skills. Also present was New Straits Times deputy chief news editor Balan Moses and NIE unit manager Mary Chandapillai.