PABM participants find Malay language unique

JEMPOL: The uniqueness and beauty of the Malay Language are among factors which prompted many participants of the 2017 Prime Minister’s Trophy for the Malay Language International Oratory Competition (PABM) to learn the language.

Most of them are fascinated by the tone and style of speaking the language, and also because it is easy to learn and understand.

Benedikt Aspacher, 25, from Germany, said he was attracted to the language when he visited Indonesia and Malaysia for the first time a few years ago.

“I have learned the Malay Language for three years and I find it interesting because the language is spoken in many countries. I like to listen to the language.

“My interest in the language started when I was 21 years old during my first visit to Malaysia and Indonesia. I bought a small book, read and then memorise it,” he told Bernama here when met at a homestay programme for participants of the competition here.

The three-day programme was held at Homestay Lonek here.

Nabiyya Zarbali, 23, from Azerbaijan, said it was her father, who is a Malay language lecturer at a university, that influenced her to learn the language.

“My father used to stay in Malaysia for a while and when he returned to Azerbaijan he also brought home some (Datuk) Siti Nurhaliza’s CDs,” said the woman who likes the song “PandangPandang Jeling-Jeling” by Siti Nurhaliza and Datuk S M Salim.

Nabiyya said she found Malay a beautiful language as it had its own tone and style of speaking which is different from other languages.

Abdul Rahman Khaled, 22, from Yemen, who concurred with Nabiyya, said the pronunciation of some of the Malay words were similar to his mother tongue.

“There are a few words which are the same like ‘mustahil’ and ‘misalnya’, and our customs are also almost similar,” he said.

Seok Da-Hye, 24, from North Korea, said it was after watching a Malay oratory competition on the Internet that she began learning to master the Malay language.

“Actually, I have many friends who have been to Malaysia and after their return they told me about life in Malaysia. It was their stories that attract me to the Malay world and when I entered university, decided to study the Malay Language,” she said.

Meanwhile, PABM chief secretariat Abdul Halim Ibrahim said the homestay programme was organised for the participants to provide them a better insight of the Malay customs and for them to experience the harmonious living in a multi-racial society in Malaysia.

Various activities have been outlined for them, like attending a Malay wedding and learning to make traditional kuih, tapping rubber trees, visit to the padi field and traditional games, he said.

The 11th edition PABM, with the theme “Pengantarabang saan Bahasa Melayu” (The Malay Language As A Medium Of Instruction) and being held for 10 days since last July 20, drew 53 participants from 35 countries.

The competition is divided into three categories, namely International, Malay World (formerly known as Nusantara category) and International Students in Malaysia.

PABM, which is mooted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, is an annual event organised by the Higher Education Ministry with the cooperation of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), University of Malaysia Debating Council (MADUM) and University of Malaysia Cultural Council (MAKUM). - Bernama