PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob hoped that the scope of cooperation among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries could be planned more carefully so that the Malay language could be made the lingua franca again.
He said this included the aspects of research, publication and nurturing of the Malay language.
“The Malay language has its own uniqueness and advantages, especially among the ASEAN countries, and can be made one of the official languages of the region,” he said, when opening the International Symposium on Bahasa Melayu at Wisma Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka today.
Ismail Sabri said at the ASEAN level, the integration of the use of the Rumi spelling system and terminology had been achieved through forums such as the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia Language Council (MABBIM) and the Southeast Asian Literary Council (MASTERA).
Therefore, he said the Malay language should be upheld in the country, including by amending the DBP Act 1959 to empower DBP to carry out enforcement against offences involving the misuse of the language.
He said that The Malay Language Internationalisation Symposium will be an annual event
“The Malay language has the huge potential to be one of the languages of the world like it was during the period between the 15th and 19th century.
“Upholding the Malay language does not hinder the country’s progress and use of the Malay language in bilateral negotiations does not impair talks,” the Bera MP stated. – May 22, 2022
