DBP given power to fine: The Cabinet has given the Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka (DBP) the power to advise and fine anyone not using the national language co

I seriously think that this step in attempting to "preserve" our national language is utterly unnecessary. Bahasa Malaysia is a wonderful language no doubt, but it is a relatively young language which still borrows certain terms from English. The ministry should not spend our limited funds by hiring "officers" to ensure that our national language is not being misused. Furthermore changing well known names such as Boulevard to Lebuh Perdana for the sake of Bahasa Malaysia is a rather for lack of a better word stupid.

If one were to really improve on our National Language, we need to start from the beginning. Through education the government and DBP can form a strong foundation in today’s youth in Bahasa Malaysia.

The key to it is to make learning the language fun, only then would they have interest in it. Having some traditional Malay folk stories such as Pak Pandir and legends such as the adventures of Hang Tuah and his friends would surely help cultivate a life long interest in the Malay language.

Next would be on the quality rather than the quantity of shows shown on national television using Bahasa Malaysia. Most of the programmes shown are local soap operas of very unrealistic characters and scenarios that are unheard of in Malaysia.

The reason why most Penangites or Kuchingites who are mostly Hokkien-speaking can catch Cantonese is due to the Cantonese soap operas shown on TV. By applying this method, indirectly television can be used as a tool to help improve our Bahasa Malaysia. The only thing now is that we lack good story lines, dialogues and a decent set of actors and actresses.

In my humble opinion, Datuk Seri Rais Yatim isn't doing our National Language any favors by advising or fining those individuals who do not use the language properly. We all can't be grammatically correct all the time cannot we? (Note the example). Instead he is driving a wedge between the people and the language itself. A mixture between English and Malay, Hokkien and Malay, Tamil and Malay, Iban and Malay, Kadazan and Malay languages is inevitable. It is sometimes used not only for communication purposes but also for business (i.e. the presentation of products on signboards) If the good Datuk were to fine these entrepreneurs how is this going to help the growth of our country? The common folk whose command of the language is substandard at best would be further estranged by it.

What the good Datuk should do is to reward those businessmen or individuals who portray Bahasa Malaysia CORRECTLY. Trust me if he were to do this our National Language would be strengthened. It is much better to win others by love rather by force in a delicate matter such as this.

P.S the author is currently very bored and has plenty of time on his hands and is sick of surfing through the naughty sites.