Use the national language widely, says Khalid

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ALL billboards in Selangor should be using Bahasa Malaysia, said Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

He said those responsible for putting up billboards, including local authorities in the state, must work together with the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) in the effort to use the national language on the advertisement boards.

He added that some of the billboards used English as the main language with less significant and smaller prints on the advertisement in Bahasa Malaysia.

“More than 90% of Malaysians are proficient in Bahasa Malaysia and advertisers must use the language properly in terms of translation, spelling and grammar.

“They should work with the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka to ensure this,” he said.

Earnest: Representatives from the local councils and Selangor state government taking an oath to give priority to the use of Bahasa Malaysia in conjunction with the launch of the National Language Month.

Khalid said this after launching the Selangor state-level National Language Month 2009 at Dewan Jubli Perak of the State Secretariat in Shah Alam on Tuesday.

State Education, Higher Studies and Human Capital Development Committee chairman Dr Halimah Ali was also present.

Khalid said Malaysians should be proud to use the national language as it was ranked fourth by Unesco as the most used language in the world.

He said Mandarin was ranked as number one while Spanish and English were ranked as second and third respectively with French and Arabic ranked fifth and sixth.

Khalid also called for the use of the national language in communicating at all state official events, including meetings and assemblies throughout October as a way to show support and respect for the language.

Meanwhile, in response to questions on the status of Port Klang assemblyman Badrul Hisham Abdullah, who is speculated to have left Pakatan Rakyat, Khalid said there were plans to have talks with him.

He said this was part of efforts to solve the problem faced by the state assemblyman.

Khalid said Badrul Hisham was receptive to this.

However, he said that talks alone would not be enough as Badrul Hisham should make himself available to the people in his constituency and carry out his duties as a state assemblyman.