RONNIE CHIN/The Star
IPOH: Those in the private sector should use Bahasa Malaysia more, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"There is no question about the usage of Bahasa Malaysia in the education sector.
"However, the usage by the people, particularly in the private sector, must be emphasised.
"The responsibility to empower the national language is shared, not just by the government or Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka," he added.
Anwar said this in his speech during the National Language Month celebration opening at the Ipoh Convention Centre here on Sunday (Oct 6).
He also said that parents are responsible for ensuring that their children can be more harmonious and united in the future.
"This requires the empowering of our language, literature and culture.
"I am among those who stress on the need to master English in this challenging world, or mastering Chinese, Tamil, Arabic and other languages that can help with communicating with other countries," he said.
"This is not a zero-sum game, to just only focus on English, which is required in our country, while neglecting mastery of Bahasa Malaysia as our national language.
"While we want to stress the usage of English in the era of artificial intelligence, digital and energy transformation, the position of Bahasa Malaysia as our national language should also be given the same focus," he added.
Anwar said that he does not represent those who believe in lessening or diminishing the usage of English.
"But I also do not want to see people having a phobia of using Bahasa Malaysia and glorifying the usage of other languages as if our lives, success and intelligence are determined by using English," he said.
