Brunei: Empowering Malay The Bruneian Way

[Harold F. Schiffman]

 BruneiDirect.Com

Empowering Malay The Bruneian Way
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Bandar Seri Begawan - A prime language forum will be held next Tuesday at
the International Convention Centre, Berakas, in an effort to create
awareness towards strengthening the Malay language in Brunei, which is
currently facing challenges posed by globalisation, the dual-language
policy and the worldwide - domination of English. Organised by the Dewan
Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports
(KKBS), the forum will be officiated by Minister of Culture, Youth and
Sports, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Dewa Major General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan
Awang Haji Mohammad bin Haji Daud.

A local language expert, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Ahmad bin Kadi, Secretary
of Censure Board from the Ministry of Home Affairs, and his two regional
counterparts, Professor Dr Awang Sariyan of the Malay Language Department
from the Academy of Malay Studies, Universiti Malaya of Malaysia, and
Mohamed Pitchay Gani bin Mohamed Abdul Aziz, Coordinator of Special
Training Programme (Ethnic Language), National Institute of Education,
Nanyang Technology University of Singapore, will be the three forum
panellists tackling the subject of "Continuous Usage of Malay Language in
the Era of Globalisation". With the theme of "The Empowerment of Malay
Language is the Responsibility of All", the forum, chaired by Dr Mataim
bin Bakar, Director of DBP, will be broadcast live by the national
television channel Radio Television Brunei, commencing 8.50pm.

Audience members, comprising selected deputy ministers, the Permanent
Secretary of KKBS, heads of departments and senior officers of KKBS,
lecturers and undergraduates, penghulus and village heads, principals,
headmasters and students, will be given opportunities to ask questions at
the Q&A session towards the end of the forum. A total of 400 participants
are expected to attend the forum, which is an event organised in
conjunction,with the 23rd National Day celebration.

The panellists are expected to deliver their views on ways to ensure the
continuous usage of the Malay language after globalisation, the effects of
the dual-language policy and the impact of English on Bruneian society.
Language experts have suggested that the development of the Malay language
should be consistent with the advancement of knowledge, in order to ensure
its continued growth and survival. Efforts must be made to expand the
language, in terms of vocabulary and etymology, so that it will not
deteriorate in the rapid development of science and technology.


http://www.brudirect.com/DailyInfo/News/Archive/Mar07/150307/nite36.htm

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