KUCHING: Language not only reflects an individual’s character but also has the power to elevate a nation’s dignity on the global stage, said Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang.
The National Unity Minister stressed that language serves as a means of national identity that introduces the nation to the world.
“The sayings ‘Language is the Soul of a Nation’ and ‘Language Reflects a Nation’ are designed to instil values and a sense of national identity within Malaysian society,” he said.
He added that language plays a vital role in fostering unity within the framework of independence.
“The concept of ‘language nationalism’ has become a key foundation in the formation of national policies, especially the National Language Policy, National Education Policy, and the National Unity Policy developed by the Ministry of National Unity.
“As expressed by the late first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, a country without its own language is like a country without a soul, as language is the spirit of a nation.
“The wisdom and leadership of our past leaders laid a strong foundation in shaping our independence, with language as a cornerstone in building Malaysia,” he stated.
He made these remarks at the National Colloquial Language Convention: Sustaining Community Language Capacity held at Hotel Tenera, Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor, on Wednesday (Nov 6).
Ago further highlighted that social integration and ethnic harmony remain critical agendas requiring commitment from all parties, including the government, private sector, and the public.
“Social integration can be fostered through the willingness of ethnic groups to assimilate and adopt values from one another, both within and across ethnic lines.
“Malaysia is frequently cited as a successful model for managing ethnic diversity and cultural pluralism. This is supported by the 2024 Global Peace Index (GPI), which ranks Malaysia as the 10th safest country worldwide out of 163 nations, a notable improvement from 19th place in the 2023 report,” he noted.
Since 2023, a total of 11 series of Colloquial Language Talks have been conducted to promote language as an agent of unity.
The concept of language nationalism has become a central pillar in shaping national identity through key policies, notably the National Language Policy, National Education Policy, and the National Unity Policy, developed by the Ministry of National Unity.
