Malay Can Become Asean’s Lingua Franca

Bera, Malaysia - The Malay language can become the lingua franca of Asean countries as it is spoken by over three-quarters of residents in the region.

Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the language was not only widely used in Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, but also in parts of Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.

"We hope champions of the Malay language can work on making Bahasa Melayu the official language for Asean countries," he told reporters after launching the Bera-level 2011 National Language Month here Saturday.

Ismail Sabri, who is also Bera Member of Parliament, said Bahasa Melayu had also once been the language of commerce during the Melaka Sultanate era.

"However, this does not mean we are putting English and other native languages aside, instead it is an effort to uphold Bahasa Melayu in the region," he added.

Source: http://www.bernama.com

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