Getting Kids To Love Malay

Children showing Rosmah some DBP-published books. Looking on Koh (second from left), DBP board chairman Datuk Johan Jaaffar (left) and Termuzi.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Preschoolers should participate in programmes that promote the Malay language and literature. Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, the wife of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said a love for the national language should be instilled at a young age.

“This love for the national language will then foster love and loyalty for the country,” she said in her speech during the Malam Semarak Perpaduan organised by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) recently.

“We are aware the national language brings us together and is the language of unity in our country. As such, efforts to involve schoolgoers in language and literature activities must be encouraged,`` she said.

The function saw the launch of the Malay Language and Malay Literature Festival for private Chinese secondary schools and Chinese and Tamil primary schools.

The festival is organised by DBP and five Chinese NGOs. Activities for the festival, which started in June and which will run through this month, feature debates, choir competitions and forums for non-Malay students.

Rosmah also called for joint activities or competitions between national and Chinese private secondary schools as well as national and vernacular primary schools.

Such activities between the students were good for the country as it helped promote harmony, understanding and unity amongst the different races.

“Learning other languages not only enriches us culturally, but gives economic advantage as well,” said Minister in the Prime Minister`s Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon. Malaysians can communicate with at least 65% of the world`s population as Chinese and English were widely spoken in the country, he added.

Story-telling, oratory and choir-singing contests and poetry recitals were among the activities held so far.

Also present were the Deputy Prime Minister`s wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman and DBP director-general, Datuk Termuzi Abdul Aziz. Shaun Ho

Source: http://thestar.com.my

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