City Hall out to get businesses to use the national language

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ADVERTISERS and premises owners have been advised to use the national language Bahasa Malaysia on advertisement billboards and signages.

The advice came from Federal Territories Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin during the launch of the Federal Territories level Bulan Bahasa Kebangsaan recently.

“I have noticed several premises including shops, recreational centres and housing developers adopting other languages especially English instead of the national language,” he said.

Nong Chik said the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) would not tear down the banners or advertisements but would settle the problem amicably.

The campaign is a collaboration between the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) and the DBKL and will run till Oct 31.

During the launch that was held at the DBKL Auditorium on Oct 20, Nong Chik said, the campaign would give all Malaysians an opportunity to uphold the usage of the national language.

“Bahasa Malaysia is not a language for the Malays only, it is being used daily by all Malaysians regardless of race, religion or culture,” he added.

DBP director-general Datuk Termuzi Abdul Aziz in his speech said the Bulan Bahasa Kebangsaan has received national attention and has been brought forward as the national agenda.

“This year’s theme is ‘Bahasa Jiwa Bangsa’. The love and pride co-relates with the attitude of our race (Malaysian race),” he added.

Termuzi added the national language has been used as the mediator for education and unity.

The campaign has been launched throughout the country at the advise of the Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Federal Territories level involves all 11 parliamentary seats and DBKL branches as well.

DBKL director-general Datuk Salleh Yusup, in his speech said, DBKL would implement several measures to ensure the national language was absorbed in their administration.

Among the measures are to use the national language in naming streets and to ensure the use of proper Bahasa Malaysia in signages and visual advertisements.

“The Bulan Bahasa Kebangsaan will reinforce our prestige in the global stage in line with the Malay language’s position as the fifth main language of the world spoken by over 300 million people,” added Salleh.

A host of events have been planned including poetry recitation, theatre performances and exhibitions.