21 april 2011 08:21

International Malay Language Seminar Passes Seven Resolutions

Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia - The 2011 International Seminar on Malay Language Education, which ended Wednesday, passed seven resolutions in efforts to uphold the Malay language as the national language and the government's official language.

Malaysian Malay Language Education Association (PPBMM) president Assoc Prof Dr Hashim Othman said the seminar, organised by the Terengganu PPBMM, with cooperation from the state government and Terengganu Education Department, focused on the improvement of language policy and the enculturation of the Malay language.

He said among the resolutions were to ask the government to bring back the Malay language as a medium of instruction for all subjects in schools and public institutions of higher learning.

The Education Ministry also needs to continuously carry out workshops and courses to come up with appealing way of learning the language at the primary and secondary school levels, as well as sharpen language skills at tertiary level.

In addition, he said the Education Ministry also needs to provide teachers with on-the-job training to allow them to master the language at a higher level, as well as strategise on how to realise the Malay language as a language for unity in Malaysia.

"The government is also urged to mobilise the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) as a publisher of academic books and support the National Istitute of Translation in importing knowledge through translation.

"Efforts to produce computer software, comics, videos and such is necessary for knowledege, while arts is carried out to expand the learning culture through communication and information technology," he told Bernama here.

Dr Hashim said to implement the resolution, leaders, especially people's representatives and government officers, need to master and use the national language in all official matters.

Since last Monday, six working papers were tabled at the seminar by local Malay language specialists, as well as those from Indonesia, Thailand and China.

A total of 250 participants took part in the seminar organised for the first time in Terengganu.

Source: http://www.bernama.com.my
Photo: http://russabbott.blogspot.com

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