Medina - Will Malay become the second language of residents in the Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina in the next 100 years?
Looking at the present situation, this is not impossible because Malay has already been used widely by traders in both Holy Cities, making it the second widest language used in the Arabian Peninsula.
As a result of hundreds of years of interaction with hajj pilgrims from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia, traders in both Holy Cities can speak in simple Malay though their diction is limited to bargaining.
The rising purchasing power of pilgrims from these countries encourages Arab and South Asian traders and their employees to learn the language to facilitate negotiations and make sales.
Phrases like "mari-mari", "kualiti bagus tetapi murah", "Malaysia boleh" and "Malaysia bagus" can often be heard at the bazaars and shops in shopping complexes around the Holy Land in the both cities. By From Zulkefli Salleh
Source:
http://www.bernama.com (November 08, 2008)
