KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 – Malay, which once served as the primary language for trade and administration across the archipelago, has the potential to be recognised as ASEAN’s second language, according to an activist.
Expressing hope that the proposal can be realised, Chua Tian Chang, better known as Tian Chua, said that Bahasa Malay has long functioned as a regional trade language, connecting people from diverse backgrounds, including those from China and India.
“It is evident from history that Bahasa Melayu has long served as the primary language of trade in the region.
“During the colonial period, even colonists from the Netherlands and the British had to learn Malay to communicate with the local population. Officers from these countries received training in Malay before being sent to the archipelago. This demonstrates the importance of Malay as a means of cross-cultural communication,” he said.
He made these remarks during a session titled “Menjadikan Bahasa Melayu Bahasa ASEAN” at the 3rd “Simposium Antarabangsa Aspirasi Bahasa Melayu” on Monday.
The former Batu Member of Parliament said that the proposal to recognise Malay as the official language of ASEAN has garnered support from various parties, with over 60 per cent of residents in the region, particularly in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and Indonesia, sharing the language, despite slight differences in dialect and vocabulary.
Meanwhile, Dr. Gabriel Walter, a Senior Researcher from Sarawak and the moderator of the session, highlighted how Bahasa Melayu has successfully united the various ethnic groups in Sarawak, despite the presence of other local languages such as Iban and Kelabit.
