It looks like the government will be doing more to enforce the use of our national language!
According to Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, a proposal has been made to provide Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) the power to take legal action against those who fail to uphold Bahasa Malaysia as the national language.
This proposal will reportedly be deliberated by a “soon-to-be-set-up special Cabinet committee”, which will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi. The committee will be formed in effort to enforce the use of Bahasa Malaysia across all sectors.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
“I will table the proposal to the Cabinet within then next two or three weeks,” said the Education Minister, according to the New Straits Times.
Datuk Seri Mahdzir stated the proposed committee will look at changing DBP’s role to include the enforcement of the national language.
He provided an example of giving Bahasa Malaysia priority in websites, and website operators that refuse to comply with regulations like this can face legal action from the DBP.
“This proposal will be discussed by the special Cabinet committee before we can table it in Parliament for approval,” the Education Minister said after attending a meeting with lecturers from the Teachers’ Training Institute and Biro Tata Negara at Institut Perguruan Kampus Darulaman.
Source: The Star
On top of that, he also mentioned that the Ministry of Education will act as the secretariat for the committee. Other ministries that will also form the secretariat are the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry, and Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry.
“The Local Government Ministry for instance, may issue a directive to all local governments nationwide to ensure that all signboards to give a priority to the national language.”
This proposal comes a few weeks after Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz made a statement about the importance of protecting our national language and “stopping the widespread advancement of English” in efforts to preserve our culture.
What do you think of this proposed move? Let us know in the comments below!
Also read: “Protect Our National Language and Stop Advancement of English in M’sia,” Says Minister
