DBP to offer BM courses for MPs

PUTRAJAYA: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) will offer Bahasa Melayu courses beginning January to members of parliament wishing to improve their proficiency in the national language.

Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik said MPs were encouraged to sit for the DBP courses, which would also be offered to foreign envoys.

Maszlee, who made the announcement at a press conference on the appointment of Kuala Lumpur as World Book Capital for 2020 by Unesco, said the decision to offer the courses was made following PKR presidentelect Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call for MPs to spruce up their Bahasa Melayu.

During a lecture at DBP on Monday, Anwar had chided leaders and MPs who had not made the effort to master the language.

He said as parliamentary proceedings were in Bahasa Melayu, proficiency in the language was crucial.

DBP board of governors chairman Mohamed Hatta Shaharom said MPs could voluntarily sign up for the courses.

However, for those who are deemed in need of extra coaching in the language, a gentle reminder will be sent to them through the Dewan Rakyat Speaker.

“This effort is taken to improve language proficiency. We are not pointing fingers at anyone.

“(And) as Datuk Seri (Anwar) noted, the Bahasa Melayu proficiency of (many) non-Malay MPs is better than those whose mother tongue is Bahasa Melayu.

“(Still), it is voluntary,” he added.

Hatta said DBP was preparing two modules for MPs — basic and advanced.

“The courses will be held at the DBP. However, we don’t mind sending our officers to Parliament to conduct the courses for the convenience of MPs.”

Mohamed Hatta said the move would set an example to Malaysians whose command of the national tongue was weak.