Current issues, feedback & complaints on public services in Malaysia
ONE of the successes that Malaysia has achieved in its 51 years as an independent nation has been the use of the national language among Malaysians.
The recent debate between Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and his predecessor Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, brought to light one important facet of Malaysian life — the use of Bahasa Malaysia to articulate important issues in our lives.
Both put across their views impeccably in Bahasa Malaysia. Their flawless command of the national language impressed their multiracial audience.
Despite the differences in political ideology, the language they used to articulate their views renders them as true Malaysians.
By virtue of being able to converse well in Bahasa Malaysia on national issues, they have convinced us that though Malaysians are of different ethnic origins, they have acknowledged the unifying force of Bahasa Malaysia.
This debate underscores the rightful place of Bahasa Malaysia in the Malaysian context.
Unity among Malaysians can best be achieved, among others, through the wide use of a common language, and Bahasa Malaysia is apt.
The people should acknowledge that the ability to speak the national language well is one of the reasons that our multiracial people interact with ease.
Language is the soul of a nation — as they say in Bahasa Malaysia, bahasa jiwa bangsa. Our identity as a nation, among others, is the national language that everyone owns and uses.
Every Malaysian has to be proud of this distinctiveness and it has to be preserved and enhanced.
The debate has proven to all that Bahasa Malaysia has an important place in the country.
This debate has also provided extra momentum to get all Malaysians to use Bahasa Malaysia to discuss issues of national importance.
When children see their leaders speak eloquently in Bahasa Malaysia, they are encouraged to do so likewise.
DR M.A. NAIR, Bandar Muadzam Shah
Source: NST – September 2, 2008
2 responses to “NATIONAL LANGUAGE: Bahasa Malaysia works as a unifier”
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Brian Barker
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:04 pm
I agree with your comment on the need for Bahasa Malaysia as a common language, but I worry about the need for a common language for the World, as well.
I see also that Barack Obama wants everyone to learn a foreign language.
The British learn French, the Australians study Japanese and the Americans prefer Spanish.
Yet this leaves Mandarin Chinese out of the equation!
Interestingly nine British MP’s have nominated Esperanto for the Nobel Peace Prize 2008.
You can see detail at http://www.lernu.net
seun akinwa
September 4th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
helo ! my name is seun akinwa i am a nigerian and i want to hdo my postgraduate masters studies in malaysia buti first want to come to malaysia to study malaya and/or chinese.how can i apply for this courses.pls recommend a school for me . tanx!