Bahasa Malaysia for international students: political move by PM?

KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has been accused of politicising the national language, seeing as it is already mandatory for international students to learn Bahasa Malaysia since 2014.

Former deputy education minister Teo Nie Ching said the policy mooted by the prime minister during Umno’s general assembly last week has raised questions, as international students are instructed to take up the national language as a mandatory class under the Mata Pelajaran Pengajian Umum programme.

“The international students also have the chance to learn ethnic relations and Islamic and Asian civilisations (Titas). This programme has been around since 2014 and implemented in local universities that take in international students,” she said in a statement today.

Teo, who is also DAP publicity secretary, also claimed that the academic community and international students are puzzled as to why the prime minister is introducing an existent policy for tertiary education.

“For example, University of Nottingham Malaysia academician Zaharom Naim described the announcement as politically inspired, especially when it was made during the umno general assembly.

“It is as if the prime minister did not check with Higher Education Minister Datuk Noraini Ahmad to get the facts right before making such an announcement.

“However, his speech should have further explanation. Did he want to make it mandatory for all international students to obtain a pass for Bahasa Malaysia, or is there a need to review the syllabus?”

Teo said that the Mata Pelajaran Pengajian Umum – a pre-university qualification of general studies for private universities in Malaysia – is sufficient for international students to learn about the country.

“I hope the prime minister is not merely speaking on the party stage to garner support, as it is a waste of time and brings confusion as he did not check what has been implemented at the ministry level.”

Last weekend, Ismail Sabri, who is also Umno vice-president, said all foreign students in the country must learn the national language and the matter was agreed upon by Noraini.

He added that the government would amend the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Act 1959 to allow the DBP to take action against any violations of Bahasa Malaysia usage, including at the district level.

He also told Umno members that a circular had been issued to agencies, ministries and government-linked companies to use Bahasa Malaysia in each of their programmes. – The Vibes, March 26, 2022