CONCERTED EFFORT: Awang Sariyan (left), Hamsiah (second left) and other guests at the launching of the ‘National Language Month’ at Tun Abdul Razak Teachers Training Institute campus in Kota Samarahan.
KOTA SAMARAHAN: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka director general Dr Awang Sariyan launched the ‘National Language Month’ at Tun Abdul Razak Teachers Training Institute campus recently.
In his speech, he said Bahasa Melayu is the identity of Malaysian and the language of unity.
He said the national and official language plays an important role in the public service sector. He said BM is widely used but the standard is still not good, for example people sometimes mix it with other languages during meeting. He said if the problem is left unchecked, it would paralyse the government’s policy.
As a solution, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka had proposed the ‘Audit Bahasa’ plan that was launched by the Public Service Department on Oct 28, 2011.
He said ‘Audit Bahasa’ programme was a concrete and supporting solution to standardised the use of the country’s national language in the public service sector.
He said Audit Bahasa involved strategy planning, implementation and report preparation. The implementation of ‘Audit Bahasa’ programme was not to criticise the ministry, department or agency but a step to improve the proper use of the national language.
He said recognition in the form of certificates and presents would be given to qualified units, and that ‘Audit Bahasa’ programme would gradually be introduced to other sectors like government linked companies, education institutions and the private sector.
According to the campus director Hamsiah Abdullah Masni, the language month campaign started 60 years ago as ‘language week’. In 2009, it was launched as ‘Bulan Bahasa Kebangsaan’. In 1999, former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi launched programme ‘Bulan Bahasa dan Sastera Negara’ (BBSN).
She said this campaign had the objectives to strengthen trainee teachers’ Malay language. Through the activities, she hoped it could raise awareness of the importance of the language amongst the trainee teachers.
She encouraged more trainee teachers to join the programmes to improve their knowledge and understanding of the language. She hoped trainee teachers would appreciate the joint efforts by the organisers to polish the use of the language.