JOHOR BARU: The use of classical Malay in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s speeches should be encouraged and promoted among the country’s youth, says National Laureate Prof Datuk Dr Siti Zainon Ismail.
She added that this effort is important in ensuring that Malay literature is preserved and continues to be practised by future generations.
“In Japan and China, literature forms an integral part of their heritage and culture, and witnessing literary performances is almost therapeutic for them.
“We should not hesitate to use Bahasa Malaysia in communication, and much of the language the Prime Minister uses is classical Malay, which is seldom spoken nowadays.
“Just because we might not understand some older words doesn’t mean we should switch to other languages. Doing so risks promoting slang and mixed languages,” she said.
She said this after the launching ceremony of the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Library Department Braille Audio Books Project at Bangunan Canseleri Sultan Ibrahim, here, on Monday (Sept 23).
She added that young people should be given greater exposure to the nation’s history to help them appreciate the importance of preserving their culture.
“Malaysia is unique, formed by diverse cultures. Even my late grandmother spoke Tamil and Chinese, reflecting this diversity.
“We should take pride in being able to speak our own language,” she added.
More to come
