Malay, not Bahasa Malaysia for Asean use, says PM

Ismail Sabri officiating at the International Symposium on Bahasa Melayu on Sunday. Looking on (from left) is DBP's Prof Datuk Seri Dr Awang Sariyan and Education Ministry's secretary-general Datuk Yusran Shah Mohd Yusof. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star

PETALING JAYA: The International Symposium on Bahasa Melayu is the best platform to identify whatever obstacles in dignifying the Malay language thus making it one of the official languages of Asean, says the Prime Minister.

Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob also took the opportunity to clarify that it is not "Bahasa Malaysia" that Malaysia wishes to promote as the language of Asean, but "Bahasa Melayu" (Malay language), which was also used in other countries in Asean.