KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 — Malaysians are unwittingly abusing Bahasa Malaysia by using bad grammar or mixing the national language with words from other foreign languages, a training institute said today.
Tun Abdul Razak Institute of Broadcasting and Information (IPPTAR) deputy director Mohammad Azhar Mohd Abas said this could be partly due to the increased use of social media, which he claims often uses simplified BM.
“Without realising it, Malaysians themselves contaminate the national language when they prioritise foreign language, use language that don’t follow proper BM grammar, choose inaccurate vocabulary and mix BM with foreign language.
“These are among the issues that needed attention,” Mohammad Azhar said in his speech at a seminar on globalising BM.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak recently acknowledged that English proficiency is important for Malaysian graduates.
Putrajaya, however, has postponed plans to make English a compulsory pass in the SPM Form Five examinations that was meant to take effect next year.
English daily The Star recently reported that poor English proficiency led over 1,000 medical graduates to quit their ambitions to become doctors.
