Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) has asked the Cabinet to stop calling the national language Bahasa Malaysia and use Bahasa Melayu instead.
Its chairman Prof Datuk Seri Dr Md. Salleh Yaapar ‘a ministry has agreed’ to this proposal, although he did not name the ministry, The Star Online reports.
“We have managed to convince the ministry to revert to the use of Bahasa Melayu, which was (earlier) changed to serve the political interests of some,” he was quoted as saying.
According to the report, Dr Md Salleh also raised the fact that Malays were among the many people asking for the return of the English language as the medium of instruction.
“I call upon language enthusiasts to fight these traitors who are becoming increasingly daring,” he reportedly said.
Dismissing the need for English to be used in a country for it to be considered developed, DBP coordinating body member Prof Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Abu Bakar jumped in to support the argument, the portal reports.
“Only when we go overseas to countries like Germany, Japan and China do we realise that we have been conned,” he was quoted as saying.
In 2007, the government announced that the term for the national language would go back to Bahasa Malaysia — after previously being known as Bahasa Melayu for several years —to allow inclusivity of all races.
