IPOH, Oct 6 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has criticised certain elite groups for their obsession with the English language, which has led them to underestimate the importance of Bahasa Melayu, the country’s national language.
He said the belief that success and intelligence can only be achieved through mastery of English is misguided.
“I do not advocate reducing the importance of English, but I also reject any phobia towards our own language.
“I want to remind those overly fixated on the English language that while they may have grown up in London, they live in Malaysia and must represent the hopes and aspirations of the Malaysian people as a whole,” he said during the launch of National Language Month 2024 at the Ipoh Convention Centre.
Also present were Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar and Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka director-general Dr. Hazami Jahari.
National Laureates Datuk Zurinah Hassan and Datuk Rahman Shaari were also in attendance.
Anwar added that the various ethnic groups in the country should set aside their disputes over language and strengthen their commitment to empower Bahasa Melayu.
“When this is achieved, it will be easier for us to focus on enhancing English, Chinese, Tamil and other languages,” he said.
He further added that a nation’s economic empowerment must go hand in hand with the empowerment of its culture and civilisation, including language, arts and literature.
