KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has criticised certain elite groups’ obsession with the English language, which resulted in them underestimating the national language.
The prime minister also said that mastering English does not guarantee one can achieve success and intelligence, Bernama reported.
While he said he is not advocating against English, he also stressed on rejecting any “phobia” towards Bahasa Malaysia.
“I want to remind those overly fixated on English – as 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 today.
Anwar said that all ethnic groups in Malaysia should set aside differences and disputes over languages and instead commit to empowering the national language.
“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 include the empowerment of its culture and civilisation, including language, arts and literature.
Under his leadership, the government will remain dedicated to elevating Bahasa Malaysia while ensuring other languages are not marginalised, he added.
“It has been claimed that the Madani government marginalises BM. Where exactly is this marginalisation?
“We are prioritising the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka and education. Compared to previous years, it is evident that more funding and support are now being allocated,” he said. – October 6, 2024