Efforts to promote BM to be ramped up
PUTRAJAYA: The Education Ministry will redouble its efforts to uphold Bahasa Melayu as the national language, not just in the country but also globally.
Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik said the ministry, via Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), would launch Dekad Bahasa Kebangsaan (National Language Decade), which would map out a plan to make Bahasa Melayu the language of choice in the country.
“Malaysia is ‘too small’ (to do justice to Bahasa Melayu). We will promote and empower the national language in the region.
“However, Asean is also too small for the language.
“That is why we will take Bahasa Melayu to the world stage.”
Maszlee was speaking at the ministry’s monthly assembly and Hari Raya Aidilifitri celebration here yesterday.
He said, over the next five years, the ministry would help place DBP on a par with language centres and institutes of developed nations.
“We will work hard to elevate DPB on the same level as the British Council, Goethe Institute and Nippon Institute. We aim to make this a reality.”
Maszlee said the ministry was aware that Malaysians’ reading culture had yet to reach a satisfactory level.
“In reality, it is lagging behind other developed nations.
“The Education Ministry, in cooperation with other ministries and agencies, will revive the National Reading Campaign, first introduced in the 1990s, which will run for two years.”
He said the campaign would involve two stages — the first two years would see a more aggressive, radical and unconventional approach to ensure that Malaysians inculcate the reading habit.
“From 2020 to 2030, the period will be declared the National Language Decade. DBP will once again be entrusted with spearheading this initiative.
“We hope that in 2030, Malaysians will be known around the world as well read.”