Malaysiakini (http://www.malaysiakini.com)
Gapena: Uni's have no right to use English, 20 January 2011
The Ministry of Higher Education ought to firm on usage of Bahasa Malaysia as the main medium of instruction in higher learning institutions, said a language activist.
Prof Abdul Latiff Abu Bakar, who is also the Malaysian National Writers Association (Gapena) deputy chief, said the national language should be made the compulsory medium of instruction beginning from matriculation up to PhD level.
Speaking to Bernama after a Bahasa Melayu discourse themed "Reality and Challenges" here today, he said the institutions did not have the right to use English as the medium just to attract foreign students and to encourage its usage among local students.
"This process will indirectly lessen the value the Malay language as a language of knowledge and retard efforts to uplift it to the global stage," he said.
Abdul Latiff who presented a working paper at the one-day seminar opened by Perlis Mentri Besar Md Isa Sabu, said the ministry should also instruct the institutions to carry out more research and publish journals and books in the Malay language.
He suggested a national fund be created for the academic staff who were keen in publishing Malay books and their effort should be taken into consideration for promotion as well as they be given special awards.
Bernama
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