Use the Net to spread BM, says Minister

What say you on the issue below?

KUCHING: Malaysian writers and linguists should take advantage of the Internet to broaden the use of Bahasa Malaysia around the world, Sarawak Housing Minister Datuk Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg said.

He said this is because the Internet has no boundaries and is widely used by the younger generation to interact with one another.

“Since the technology is there, what is wrong with using it to extend educational material and novels in our national language to others?

“We should maximise the use of the Internet for this purpose because it is utilised by people around the world,” he told reporters after launching the National Language Month Expo 2009 at the Sarawak Tourism Complex here yesterday.

The four-day expo is organised by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

Abang Johari also said that many Sarawakians were fluent in the national language regardless of their ethnic background due to various programmes such as debates that had been held regularly since the 1980s to promote the use of Bahasa Malaysia.

“In the State Legislative Assembly, more people speak in Bahasa Malaysia although we are flexible on the language used in the House,” he said.

Abang Johari said Bahasa Malaysia played an important role in unity and nation-building by enabling Malaysians of different races to communicate with one another.

“Bahasa Malaysia belongs to all Malaysians and is part of our identity,” he said.