Bank Negara Malaysia and Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) have been advised to conduct language audit using the star-rating system to ensure that the national language is being used comprehensively in all financial institutions in the country.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the star-rating system would also provide a benchmark for their performances in terms of the quality of the national language used in official events either at the national or international level.

"We understand that the use of foreign language, especially English, is vital to boost our business and trades at the international level. However, this does not mean that we have to set aside the Malay language.

"It would be better if business among the locals were to be conducted using the Malay language.

"This way, the financial institutions can also expand their businesses and make a larger profit," he said when launching a symposium on the use of national language in financial and insurance sector in Kuala Lumpur today.

Present were Deputy Finance Minister Awang Adek Husin and Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz.

Muhyiddin also called on financial institutions to allocate some of their profits for the campaign to promote the use of national language, in a bid to uphold its status, as part of their corporate social responsibilities.

"I believe there are many strategic cooperation being mounted between financial institutions and the governing body for the national language to implement such a campaign.

GLCs should support the agenda

"At the same time, government-linked companies should also support the national agenda to uphold the status of national language in the financial sector.

"By doing so, the initiative currently undertaken by BNM and DBP can be continued by the industry players," he said.

The deputy prime minister also encouraged financial institutions to send their staff to undergo the Accredited Malay Language Course for Financial Sector organised by the Institute of Bankers Malaysia, Bank Negara and DBP to produce human capital with good command of Malay language.

Muhyiddin said it would be awkward if the Malay language, which was once a 'lingua franca' for the region, were to be sidelined in the era of globalisation and borderless world.

"Some people think that using the Malay language will not make them successful in business. In this context, we really have to learn from the people in Japan, Korea and Taiwan, who made steady progress by using their mother tongue and not by developing their proficiency in foreign or English language," he said.

Meanwhile, Awang Adek told a press conference that the ministry's sub-committee on the implementation of national language would continue monitoring the efforts taken by financial institutions in the country to uphold the status of national language.

"We are not setting any target or deadline for them to implement the efforts, but I'm sure that both Bank Negara and DBP are capable of expanding and taking the national language to a greater height especially in the financial sector," he said.

- Bernama