NOV 19 — The debate on whether to use Bahasa Malaysia or English for communication got a fresh lease of life this week when Deputy Education Minister Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi expressed his opinion that the national language should be used as a matter of pride. He said Malaysians should emulate the French, Japanese and Koreans, who were loyal to their language, and admonished Malaysians for tarnishing the image of the national language by not using it.
Perhaps he is right. Many people use English to communicate. For example, the dominant political party in Malaysia is the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), of which Puad is a member.
Their leaders even spoke English to cajole a tearful Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad from quitting immediately at the 2002 Umno general assembly.
Unlike the other Malay-based political parties such as Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
Puad and others can look towards Indonesia, where everyone speaks Bahasa Indonesia with no exceptions. They have pride in their national language but they are also among Asian nations where its people now speak excellent English.
Fact is, like the Chinese in mainland China where millions spend money to learn the language of the “red-haired devils”, Indonesians know that English will propel them further in their economic progress. After all, Indonesia is already a G20 nation.
China, known as the factory of the world, is also now exporting services, just like India. Yes, both have pride in their languages but both also know the language of commerce is English.
Puad should consider all this in his crusade for Malaysians in the private sector and government-linked-companies to use Bahasa Malaysia to communicate with each other or even with the government.
But he is right that mixing the languages is bad for both English and Bahasa Malaysia, for Malaysians will become the Jack of all languages but the master of none, to paraphrase the saying.
This is happening in Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore, much to the detriment of those countries.
If Puad is smart, and he is the deputy education minister in charge of our future generation, he should encourage the growth and usage of both Bahasa Malaysia and English among all Malaysians.
Rather than grumble about one or the other. Malaysians need to speak English as we are one of the top trading nations in the world. Countries with Bahasa as their national languages — Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore (surprise surprise) — know that.
Otherwise, the first thing he should to do is ask his political party to toe the line and switch its name to the Bahasa Malaysia equivalent.
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Because of pride, we forsake the future. While others are moving forward, we move backwards.
How can you compare Malaysia with homogeneous countries like Japan, Korea, France, etc in which for centuries they use their own language? Malaysia is not a homogeneous society.
Think before you leap, Mr Dep Minister. If you speak so loudly, make sure you don't utter a single word of English, lest you tarnish the image of your own national language!