BY: KEN WATANABE

In stating that every Malaysian should recognise and show respect for Bahasa Melayu, His Majesty the King’s view can be no further from the truth, and it is important to heed his decree to use the language everyday and whenever possible.

While the English language is the ‘lingua franca’ or medium of communication used by the whole wide world in this era of globalization, Bahasa Melayu should be developed and its potential as the regional language for ASEAN must not be discounted.

Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka must lead the way, and by working hard to promote the use of Bahasa Melayu, not only in this country, but around the region it is set to become among the foremost and leading languages across the globe.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong in his wisdom is striving to guide and direct Malaysians in the direction they should go in using and promoting Bahasa Melayu not just for students but for adults and seniors and the elderly.

But it would be better for Malaysians to possess dual proficiency by excelling in not only Bahasa Melayu but also the English language as well so they can be competitive whether domestically or abroad.

But vernacular languages are just as important as well as it is the heritage language of the Chinese and Indian communities therefore there has to be the focus and due attention given to Mandarin and Tamil respectively.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher