Ramasamy fumes at PMX’s speeches which are “obsessed with appeasing his audiences”

PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim needs to identify the elite groups who are so obsessed with the English language that they neglect Bahasa Melayu (BM), the nation’s official language and a critical tool for national unity.

There is no denial that while proficiency in other important languages such as English, Mandarin and Tamil are essential, it must not come at the expense of BM.

Anwar himself understands that mastering other languages does not imply neglecting BM. The debates surrounding its significance have long been settled.

There is no question about BM’s constitutionally-sound status as the official language or its role in official communication, education and public universities.

If some public universities, particularly those catering primarily to the Malay population, use English as the medium of instruction, the issue lies not with the elites but with the government in power.

The government cannot implement contradictory policies regarding BM. Institutions of higher learning must adhere to national language policies consistently.

PMX’s flip flop stance

Over the past year or so, Anwar has struggled to present a clear direction on policy matters. His public speeches seem to be tailored to the audience he is addressing at any given moment.

In language forums, he emphasises the importance of BM, sometimes to the point of criticising those fixated on English. Yet, in other contexts such as the opening of a Tamil school in Perak, he highlights the significance of Tamil.

This approach reveals a tendency to appease different audiences rather than offering a coherent policy framework.

Though Anwar often speaks without prepared texts, his speeches are still shaped by the need to win approval from his listeners.

If Anwar is aware of any elite groups opposing the full implementation of BM as the national language, he should expose them.

If not, it would be wise for him to be more measured in his statements and actions moving forward. – Oct 7, 2024

 

Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.

Main image credit: Anwar Ibrahim\/Facebook

 

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