KUALA LUMPUR MAR.23: Only four countries in ASEAN use English in official functions at the international level while six other countries use their own languages that need to be translated in official events.
Prime Minister, Datuk Seri ismail Sabri Yaakob said, he is confident that one day bahasa Melayu will be used as one of the official languages in ASEAN and this could be discussed with ASEAN leaders in future.
“Besides Malaysia, several neighbouring countries such as Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, South Thailand, South Philippines and part of Cambodia use bahasa Melayu as their intermediate language.
“In my current visit to Vietnam two days ago, I have used bahasa Melayu. We should not feel ashamed or uncomfortable to use bahasa Melayu at the international levels.
“The efforts to dignify bahasa Melayu is also in line with one of the prioritised fields in the Foreign Policy Framework launched by the government on 7th Dec. 2021 that is Cultural Diplomacy and it covers the element of internationalising bahasa Melayu on the global platform,” Ismail said.
Ismail was elaborating on the oral question at Dewan Negara raised by Senator Datuk Isa Ab.Hamid on the government’s efforts to dignify bahasa Melayu in diplomatic affairs abroad and international relations in the First Meeting 2022, Fifth Term,14th Parliamentary session here today.
With this regards Ismail said, efforts to use bahasa Melayu will be continued at any meeting and international conference whether it is a two way or multiple ways in the country or abroad depending on the suitability.
“The government is also amending the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Act 1959 (DBP) as a step to dignify bahasa Melayu and subsequently to make it as a knowledge language.
“The amendment will enable DBP to take action on any breach of bahasa Melayu usage at all levels whether at the District, State or Federal,” Ismail reiterated. –Malaysia World News
