THE Selangor state government has set the use and mastery of the Malay language as a core requirement for land ownership, title registration and business premises licensing in the state.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the move is aimed at affirming the constitutional definition of a Malay person, which includes the use of Bahasa Melayu, adherence to Malay customs and professing Islam.
"This is a basic interpretation to determine whether one qualifies as Malay or Bumiputera and therefore is eligible for land ownership quotas in Selangor," he said.
“This is clearly outlined in the Federal Constitution and is echoed in various laws governing land ownership, citizenship rights and even signages.”
Amirudin was speaking after launching the 2025 National Language Month celebrations at the national level. Also present was Ministry of Education Secretary-General Datuk Dr Aminuddin Hassim.
He stressed that the state government is fully compliant with the National Language Act, with road signs, place names and public signage all adhering to the standards set by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP).
“Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has also consistently stressed the importance of using Bahasa Melayu. There was a time when this became an issue, but it has since been made clear that public signboards must feature either Jawi or Rumi script in Bahasa Melayu,” Amirudin said.
He added that promoting the national language is key to fostering unity and strengthening national identity.
“This highlights how crucial Bahasa Melayu is in building unity and patriotism among all Malaysians,” he said. - October 12, 2025
