I AGREE with P. Pakiras of Johor Baru (”It’s only proper to use listed terms” - NST, Jan 9) that Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, the national language institute established in the 1950s, be the sole authority which should determine the correct use of terminologies in Bahasa Malaysia in the country.

Otherwise, the existence of the DBP would seem meaningless. It is proper, therefore, that ministries and government departments continue to seek advice from DBP before introducing new words or terminologies in Bahasa Ma-laysia in their respective agencies.

In this respect, two days ago I was in a pharmacy and felt a bit uneasy over the use of the term “dispensan” on the sign to mean dispense or “give out” medicine at the counter.

I wonder why the pharmacy chose to adopt the word “dispensan“, by adding “an” to the English word, when a simple Malay word such as “memberi ubat” or “mengambil ubat” (take your medicine here) would have been more appropriate and easily understood by patients waiting for their medicine.

S. RAGUNATHAN, Petaling Jaya

Source: NST – January 14, 2008