Dewan Bahasa chief ‘did
not call for exclusive use of
Malay’
Former DBP director-general Abang Sallehuddin Abg Shokeran says the agency always gives priority to the national language while encouraging mastery of other languages.
Abang Sallehuddin Abg Shokeran, who was director-general from 2019 to 2022, said Dewan Bahasa always gave priority to the use of Malay while encouraging mastery of other languages like English, Tamil, Arabic and Mandarin.
“This approach is common in many nations,” Sallehuddin told FMT.
He said the literary agency’s goal is to strengthen Malay, just as other countries uphold their national languages. The use of English was to serve specific purposes, he said.
Sallehuddin’s comments come in the wake of criticism of his successor, Hazami Jahari, who stated last week that official reprimands had been issued to civil servants for using English at government functions attended by Malaysians.
Hazami had also cited the use of English in public displays, including the names of programmes like “Back to School” and “KL Car-Free Morning”.
Sallehuddin said excessive emphasis on English could be detrimental to Malay as the national language, overlooking its cultural and historical significance. “We must consider these aspects and not simply adopt foreign languages in the name of progress,” he said.
He said that, under the law, the national language must be used in government affairs
“Even the Public Service Department has issued a directive advising government officials to use the national language. If another language is needed, it may be considered as a secondary option,” he said.
Sallehuddin said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has always highlighted the importance of elevating the status of the Malay language while encouraging proficiency in English and other languages.
In criticising the use of English at official functions, Hazami said that civil servants who do not use Malay in government affairs were disrespecting the Federal Constitution and the National Language Act.
Hazami’s statements were met with criticism from a former senior civil servant and a former minister.
Former transport ministry secretary-general Ramon Navaratnam said there was a need for “a more balanced, reasonable and rational approach” on the matter.
“If Bahasa Melayu is ignored deliberately, then people have a right to question why. But it is bad to label everybody who uses English (in government material) as disrespecting the Federal Constitution,” he said.
“This is a complicated and emotional matter. The government should discuss this issue at the Cabinet level because one misguided directive can cause confusion and misunderstanding,” Ramon told FMT.
Former trade and industry minister Rafidah Aziz said many nations now gave priority to English for its vital role in enabling effective communication and accessing a vast repository of knowledge.
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