KUALA LUMPUR: The Malay language cannot be regarded as the same as other languages regarding its status and position and must be placed on a higher level as stipulated in Article 152 of the Federal Constitution, said an academic.
Senior lecturer at the Department of Media and Communication Studies, Universiti Malaya, Dr Mohamad Saleeh Rahamad, said the Malay language must be used as the country’s official language as provided in the Federal Constitution.
“…we need other languages…English, Arabic…even Mandarin…we are not against other languages.
“But the status of the Malay language must be higher and cannot be equal (to other languages). It is wrong, if it is equal, then what is its function in the Constitution?” he said while appearing as a guest on Bernama TV’s programme, Apa Khabar Malaysia: Elevating the Dignity of the Malay Language to a Global Level, today.
He said people nowadays, especially the younger generation, admire those who speak English but disapprove of those who use the Malay language in conversations, seeing them as outdated.
“The problem is, even in official scenarios, the use of the Malay language is degraded, which makes us angry and sad.
“… I’m not saying that the younger generation should not master English. That is wrong…they need to master English,” he added.
Mohamad Saleeh, also the National Writers Association of Malaysia president, urged leaders such as politicians to be role models and use ‘correct, beautiful and engaging’ Malay language in their conversations, especially when being interviewed by the media so that others would be impressed by the language. — BERNAMA
