Malaysia: Many officials still not using Bahasa Malaysia

[Harold F. Schiffman]

Malaysia, The Star Online:  Parliament

Friday April 7, 2006

Many officials still not using BM

THE use of English at public functions and official campaigns became an
issue.  A backbencher said government officials in other countries knew
how to speak and write in English, but placed more emphasis on their
national language when attending official functions in their own
countries. Razali Ibrahim (BN Muar) said many parliamentarians also know
English, but they respected the sanctity of the national language and
spoke Bahasa Malaysia in the Dewan.

However, he added, the Youth and Sports Ministry was using words such as
Kempen Cari Champion (Search for Champions Campaign) and the Health
Ministry Sure Sihat (Definitely Healthy) in their campaigns. They are not
adhering to the government policy of using the national language. Some
ministry officials and even ministers are speaking in English during
meetings, he said when debating the Ninth Malaysia Plan. On education,
Datuk Dr Wan Hashim Wan Teh (BN Gerik) said the Government should put in
every effort to make national schools as multiracial in character as
possible.

It may not be enough to just introduce Chinese and Tamil. There may be a
need to change the curriculum, with less emphasis placed on academic
aspects and more on national integration, he said. Asked by Idris Haron
(BN Tangga Batu) if Chinese should be made a compulsory subject in view of
its emerging importance, Dr Wan Hashim said it was a good suggestion. We
should make it compulsory for students to learn a third language. We
should be able to converse in more than two languages, he said.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/4/7/parliament/13895214&sec=parliament