Arifin (fourth left) with local leaders and representatives from Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka when observing a video clip during the launch of the National Language Month.
SANDAKAN: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman hopes that Bahasa Melayu language could be practised by private sector employees who are in the finance, banking, law and health sectors.
Musa said that the Program Audit Bahasa or Language Audit Programme under the Sabah Public Service Department and Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka was already implemented in the state’s public service in February this year.
He said that the programme showed that 95.7 per cent of the state government civil servants were utilising the Bahasa Melayu language.
Musa hoped that the same programme could be implemented by the private sector as well.
“I hope that the programme to promote our national language such as the Language Audit Programme could also be carried out within the private sector, with the hope that Malaysians would value our national language more and at the same time master the use of the language,” he said.
Musa said this in his speech which was read by the Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif, during the launching ceremony of Sabah State-level National Language Month at the Sandakan Community Hall, here yesterday.
Musa said that the national language was an important tool to further enhance a person’s spirit of patriotism.
“The National language is also a symbol of unity amongst our multi-racial people. Even though Malaysia is recognised as a vernacular country, our national language could be a “romantic” relationship between the people of different races, cultures and languages,” he added.
Also present at the launching ceremony were the Assistant Minister to the Local Government and Housing Datuk Zakaria Edris, Batu Sapi Member of Parliament Datuk Linda Tsen, Karamunting assemblyman Charles O Pang and other local leaders and representatives from Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.