GOVERNMENT council members must use Bahasa Malaysia as the medium of instruction as part of efforts to uphold it as a “language of knowledge”, said Anwar Ibrahim.

The PKR president noted the doubts raised by certain quarters on the matter, but said Pakatan Harapan must remain committed to the said efforts.

“Recently, I was at a conference organised by a ministry, and there were ambassadors from other countries. From the very beginning, the conference was in English, including the doa recitation.

“I commented to the minister that we should change this approach, because government events, especially national events, should be conducted in BM,” he said in his address at the state-level Malay Archipelago Language and Letters Congress closing ceremony in Ayer Keroh, Malacca, today.

The event was launched by Chief Minister Adly Zahari.

Anwar said the use of a mix of BM and English at press conferences given by leaders or those organised by the government does not mirror the PH administration’s stance that the national language must be upheld.

“I urge for press conferences to be conducted in BM. But if there is a need to answer a question in English, or if it’s an international conference, then you can speak in English.” – Bernama, October 14, 2019.