Kuala Lumpur - The Bahasa Malaysia term for the national language will remain as it is and will not be changed to Bahasa Melayu, said Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin.
“The Cabinet decision is final. The Cabinet has already ordered the term Bahasa Malaysia to be used by all government departments, schools and in all official matters,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday.
Zainuddin was responding to a remark by the Overseas Umno Club Alumni deputy chairman Datuk Rais Zainudin on Sunday that a resolution would be submitted to the party`s supreme council to revert the term to Bahasa Melayu as it was still the Malay language.
The Alumni Club adopted the resolution during the Third Malay Agenda Seminar: Malays 2057 – 1st Series: Politics at PWTC on Sunday.
Zainuddin said from the psychological aspect, the use of the term Bahasa Malaysia was a more friendly and effective approach in the effort to unite Malaysians.
“Even Indonesia uses the term Bahasa Indonesia although the Malay language is used.
“Our Father of Independence Tunku Abdul Rahman felt that Bahasa Malaysia should be used as it creates a sense of belonging among the multi-racial community and makes them feel that it is their language,” he added.
Source: thestar.com.my (6 November 2007)
