Don’t neglect importance of BM – CM
KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Hj Aman said that the people must never neglect the importance of the national language, even if the country is moving towards the globalisation era.
“Globalisation is dominating and changing the mind set and the lifestyle of the people. However, this change must be dealt with wisely.
“We do not want to neglect Bahasa Melayu in the process of developing our country,” Musa said in his speech, which was read by Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Kamarlin Ombi at the launching ceremony of the State-level Bulan Bahasa Kebangsaan (National Language Month) at Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka in Likas yesterday.
He added that the use of Bahasa Melayu as the national language could serve as a catalyst for unity in the country, in accordance with the government's vision in preserving peace and harmony.
Commenting on the National Language Month, Musa said that the state government deeply acknowledged the efforts and initiatives taken by the Dewan Bahasa Pustaka (DBP) in protecting Bahasa Melayu as the national language, as had been stated in the Federal Constitution.
Musa is confident that programmes like the National Language Month will further ignite the younger generation's passion toward the preserving the national language.
In line with this, he expressed his hope that the programme would be conducted more frequently, both in the urban and rural areas of the state.
Also present at the event was the director of the Development of Language and Literature Department of DBP Kuala Lumpur Padilah Hj Ali.
Padilah disclosed that the theme of the this year's National Language Month was Bahasa Jiwa Bangsa (Language is the nation's soul), adding that the programme also aimed to promote the correct use of Bahasa Melayu in all sectors.
She asserted that this year's national language month would also focus on the nonMalay community.
The colourful launching ceremony yesterday was packed with numerous performances such as traditional dances, choir performances, poem recital and many more.
SMK Tamparuli, SMK Agama Kota Kinabalu and the Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Gaya (IPG) were among the institutions performing.