The recent announcement of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka director-general Datuk Abang Sakkehuddin Abang Shakera, about the use of Malay language prompted me to make a number of observations in this regard.
There is the idea about "advanced nation — advanced language". And that's correct. A developed country has more opportunities to develop its national language and spread it around the world.
The advancement of the English language was largely a result of the great political and economic power of America. With its influence in politics and economics automatically occurs the stronger influence of English.
But, there is an opposite process too: advanced language — advanced nation, because progress in language in turn gives the strength to a nation. The national language, for example, unites people of a country, prevents division and thus reinforces the foundation of national strength.
This idea is right in the context of Malaysia as well. It is a multi-national country, so a national language unites all ethnics, promoting understanding between them. The development of language also preserves the traditional culture that is important for the existence of a nation's identity.
The bearers of the culture are usually village folk, so it is important to help them. A clear example is Japan where the government supports its own padi cultivation even though economically it is disadvantageous while cheaper to import rice from abroad.
So, what steps should be taken to develop Bahasa Malaysia so that it is comparable with other world languages, especially English?
Firstly, all the government servants, including ministers, should use Bahasa Malaysia at all levels. Hasn't that been mentioned several times by the prime minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin?
In 1977, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Michael Thomas Somare used the national language, Tok Pisin, during his visit to Japan with two translations: from Tok Pisin into English and from English into Japanese. Of course, he knew English but wanted to show the identity of country's national language. An example worth following!
After all, Bahasa Malaysia has its own advantages. The strength is in the status of Bahasa Malaysia as the national language and the historical factors — the language was a lingua franca in the region before.
The strength of the language is also because many classical works are written in it. The development of literature can support the development of language and even "save" the language.
Russian history, for example, shows how literature saved the Russian language first from the clutches of Germany in the 18th century and then from the clutches of the French in the 19th century.
Russian writers continued to write in Russian by developing it: until now Russians speak in a literary language created in the 19th century by the writer Alexander Pushkin.
I am confident that Malay writers also could contribute significantly in developing Bahasa Malaysia. Language policy in Malaysia must be more consistent and stringent. This move must be made so that learning Bahasa Malaysia will be beneficial and prestigious.
It should also provide economic value to the use of Bahasa Malaysia in the education system up to the highest level, publishing more scientific articles in this language, making it the medium of communication in national companies and branches of international firms in Malaysia, use in all stages of negotiations. Then, more people will be encouraged to learn it.
Russian writer Ivan Turgenev once said of the Russian language: "In the days of doubt, in the days of doubtful thinking about the fate of my homeland, you alone are my comfort and support, — oh the Great, mighty, truthful and free Russian language!
"But for you, how not to fall into despair, at the sight of what is being done at home? But it is impossible to believe that such a language is not given to a great nation!"
I think that's true for Bahasa Malaysia as well. It is surely impossible to believe that such a language is not given to a great nation!
The writer, writing from Russia, is a former lecturer of Universiti Malaya
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times