*** Assalamualaikum and Hope having a Very Nice DAy...

Today, my topic is quite a very sensitive to be discussed but we need to discuss it as its will influence our contitution itself. National language being crucial and sensitive especially in Malaysia that involved multi-lingual community. Malaysian needs to appreciate their own national language in order to build strong national integration. Current situations viewing that prestige of Bahasa Melayu (BM) as a national language is going degradation. Article 152 of the Federal Constitution for the safeguard of the role of BM as a national language in all official matter, including education. So. it is under our responsibility to uphold the notion of Bahasa Melayu as our national language.

When we look into the context of judiciary system in Malaysia where BM is not be given a priority in court. Consequential of this, the issue of “Bahasa Rojak” rising in the court. The usage of BM in court is considered as unsatisfaction. Ex-Chief Judge, Tun Ahmad Fairuz criticized the usage of language in court is not perfect as having mixing between BM and English. National language will lead into distinction if the usage of “Bahasa Rojak” is not controlled as prevention is better than cure.BM is being applied as official language in court and duration of 29 years should not be an excuse for legal practitioner especially the senior not fluent in BM. Failing to be competence in national language bringing many problems as the important rules and regulations are translated into BM since 1968. Section 8 of National Language Act 1967 that allowing the court proceeding shall be partly in national language and partly in English show weakness of the law relating to the national language. Choices provided in Section 8 had brought negative impact to the usage of BM in court as most of the judges favour to use English in court because of comfortable. Amending Section 8 of National Language Act will increase the prestige of BM as acknowledgement is given by the court.

Inefficient implementation of the laws resulted signboard and advertisement in Malaysia do not use BM properly and extensively in most of times. Nowadays, it is likes a “trend” as many advertisement use English as their main language rather than BM. For instance, most of the commercial banks in Malaysia are more use English in their advertisement that can easily been seen on the road. Here, the ignorance of the instruction of Bank Negara Malaysia General Order on 2001 that all financial institutions in Malaysia are compulsory to apply national language in all matter is being asked as its implementation is not efficient. Besides, most of the sign board on all shops are failed to apply BM in a proper way and its disturb the beautifulness of the national language itself. Failing to use BM correctly and precisely is against with the general order made by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) on 2006. A good advertisement and signboard must create respect to the foreigner for our own identity.

In essence, efficient implementation of the law is the best approach to protect national language from being distinction and also safeguard the national integration among multi-racial community in Malaysia. DBP as a “language police” must be given more power to ensure standard of BM always in higher level. Even though DBP is responsible for the protection of our national language, we as a citizen of our beloved country, Malaysia should co-operate together in order to uphold the guidelines in our country Federal Constitution. Appreciation of the tagline “Bahasa Jiwa Bangsa” must be given prioritize as our national language nowadays seem not be a symbol of the nation like national flag which all Malaysian’s can identify.

That's all for now...

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