Kuala lumpur: Efforts to elevate the status of the Malay language as the national language must be driven as a collective national agenda involving all stakeholders, including the private sector, higher education institutions and the people.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Multimedia University (MMU) Faculty of Law Professor and Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Board of Governors member Prof Dr Ramalinggam Rajamanickam emphasized that the position of the Malay language is clearly enshrined under Article 152 of the Federal Constitution as the national language of the country. 'All citizens have a responsibility to uphold the dignity of the Malay language,' he stated in Bernama TV's Ruang Bicara programme titled 'Bahasa Melayu: Jiwa Bangsa, Identiti Negara' today.
Ramalinggam noted that the main challenge facing the Malay language now was not its level of usage, which was generally satisfactory, but maintaining the quality of its use amid growing issues such as 'bahasa rojak', referring to the mixing of languages, and linguistic confusion. He highlighted that while the use of 'bahasa rojak' or abbreviations on social media was not a major issue in informal settings, proper Malay language usage with correct grammar and sentence structure was essential in official matters.
From a legal standpoint, Ramalinggam underscored that the position of the Malay language is safeguarded not only under Article 152 of the Federal Constitution but also through the National Language Act 1963/67, which mandates the use of the national language in official matters. 'The ministry must monitor its implementation, while universities must ensure that the national language truly serves as a language of knowledge without compromising the need for English proficiency,' he added.
Addressing the development of technology and artificial intelligence (AI), Ramalinggam suggested that Malaysia should not wait for technology to adapt to the language, but must empower the Malay language to drive and master technology. He stressed that this effort requires comprehensive involvement from the government, higher education institutions, researchers, and language experts to ensure that the Malay language remains relevant in the fields of science, technology, economics, and AI.
Ramalinggam also pointed out that the Malay language has vast potential to become a language of knowledge, having once served as a lingua franca in the region and continuing to be studied in countries such as China, Japan, and India. 'Empowering the national language does not mean sidelining other languages. We can master multiple languages, but the national language must remain a symbol of national identity,' he concluded.