Mind your national language

Updated 1 month ago · Published on 26 Jun 2022 11:00AM · 4 Comments

Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka chairman Awang Sariyan courts controversy with his comments that people should be punished severely for ‘disrespecting’ Bahasa Malaysia. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, June 26, 2022.

Commentary by Mustafa K. Anuar

IT is unfortunate that Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) chairman Awang Sariyan found it fitting recently to propose harsh punishment for those he regarded as being “disrespectful” of the national language.

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Comments

  • This DBP chairman should be asked to retire on his own accord failing which he ought to be given the boot. He is clueless on how to take the DBP to greater heights.

    Posted 1 month ago by Super Duper

  • Now you see why Abang Johari is ignoring this nonsense. Only jaguh kampongs will come with this carrot and stick tactic to get people to use Bahasa Malaysia.

    Posted 1 month ago by Elyse Gim

  • Such a dim-witted professor. Wonder where he got his PhD.

    Posted 1 month ago by Rupert Lum

  • Imposing a fine of RM50K is a very strange way to instill 'love and appreciation' for the national language. P. Ramlee, Sudirman, Saloma and even D.J Dave did these things free with their songs. Dewan Bahasa spent millions paying educators to translate books from other languages to BM, yet that love for the language did not happen, WHY? The translated books are there collecting dust. More than half century after merdeka we are still worried about the future of BM. How Hindi songs and music have made India world famous is the only way to make language popular. Does it not sound strange to hear the Japanese and Koreans singing 'Jaya HO!' ?

    Posted 1 month ago by Citizen Pencen