Today’s Malay community is trapped between using their own language and facing policy constraints and implementation, as well as the current situation, which led to discouraging response for Malay books in the market.

Sociocultural Adviser to the Government Rais Yatim said in order to overcome the problem, Malaysia must befriend Indonesia to find a solution to promote Malay books to the republic and vice versa.

“Our language is trapped despite us being the majority. It is sandwiched in a situation in which we cannot fight for it.

“Thus, this cooperation must be properly planned by using our mutual understanding of our similar customs and cultures with Indonesia. To turn the Malay language into a lingua franca, it must be pursued internationally,” he said when launching seven special edition books authored by National Laureate Baha Zain at the Putra World Trade Centre yesterday.

Also present was Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) director-general Dr Awang Sariyan.

While stating that Malaysia and Indonesia were currently experiencing a downward trend in the interest of the people to continue their studies in Malay language, Rais proposed for academicians, or the Education Ministry, to hold a convention on Nusantara Studies.

He said the convention, which would focus on the customs and cultures of the Malays and the Malay language, would directly help to bring back the importance of the Malay language as a lingua franca.

“The acculturation of the Malay language in our country is treated lightly by society, government departments or even via education.

“The education field, specifically today, should hold renurturing programmes on language, deed and culture,” he said.

- Bernama