Jelebu - Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka should accept the criticism from a member of parliament in a constructive manner and review its method of coming out with new terms, says Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.
"We should give preference to existing Malay terms and only adapt words from other languages if there is no Malay equivalent," Rais said, adding that giving preference to foreign terms is a backward move for the Malay language.
He was commenting on remarks by Gerik MP Datuk Dr Wan Hashim Wan Teh that the DBP is adapting too many English words into its dictionary despite the existence of Malay terms.
Rais gave the example of the term advertansi (advertisement) which is in the DBP dictionary.
"We already have a term with a similar meaning, which is iklan. So why should anybody use the term advertansi?" he said.
"We have discussed this with Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and we will help to ensure that preference is given to Malay terms."
Rais was speaking after the opening of the Jelebu Public Library by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan here yesterday.
Source: www.nst.com.my (29 November 2007)
