The Malay language has its own uniqueness and advantages, especially among ASEAN countries. Therefore, it can be made one of the official languages of ASEAN.

During the International Symposium on Bahasa Melayu, the Prime Minister said that he is optimistic that the scope of cooperation among ASEAN countries could be planned more carefully so that the Malay language could be made the “lingua franca” again.

The purpose of the symposium is to emphasis that the national language needs to be expanded in its use at the ASEAN and international levels.

Ismail said at the ASEAN level, the integration on the use of the Rumi spelling system and terminology had been achieved through forums such as the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia Language Council and the Southeast Asian Literary Council.

“Many countries have achieved their developed country status by upholding their own language. We should have our identity and prove that upholding the Malay language does not constrain the country's progress,” said the Prime Minister.

Hence, he said, the Malay language should be amended in the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Act 1959 to empower the body to carry out enforcement against offenses involving the use of the language.

Ismail Sabri explained that the role and responsibilities of DBP as the national language, literature and publication planning body need to be detailed more clearly so that the implementation of the provisions of Article 152 of the Federal Constitution, National Language Act and other laws related to the national language would be more effective.

He also expressed the need for efforts to be made to expand the teaching and use of the Malay language in higher education institutions in the country.

Citing the Malay proverb “Di mana bumi dipijak, di situ langit dijunjung” (or When in Rome, do as the Romans do), Ismail Sabri said only then the Malay language could be a tool to foster national unity.

According to the Prime Minister, during the ASEAN-United States special summit in Washington recently, he also spoke in Malay, including at bilateral talks with other countries at the summit.

Letters he sent to world leaders were also in the Malay language with translations in English, he said.

The International Symposium on Bahasa Melayu is held from May 22 to May 24 and it is a collaboration between the Prime Minister's Office and DBP as well as the Institute of Malay Nature and Civilization (ATMA) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).