YOURSAY | 'So which version of BM is not broken? Kelantanese, Johorean, Sabahan, 'bahasa pasar'?'

'Broken' Bahasa Malaysia to cost you RM1k soon?

Newday: Bahasa Malaysia (BM) will be stuck in a time warp if this is instigated. What happens tomorrow or in 20 years’ time?

Any language grows, modifies and evolves over time, reflecting its society’s needs. What version of BM is to be written - the formal, grammatically correct one or the type that reflects how this beautiful language is spoken?

What is the correct way? Ten translators will give 10 different interpretations. There are too many questions to put a neat box around the language and then fine people if it is not correct according to those policing it.

Awang Top: If I use the Kelantanese or Terengganu dialects of Malay, is that wrong? If I want to advertise my product in a Kelantanese market, using Kelantanese Malay, is that wrong?

Next, you would be fined for not walking properly in a Malaysian way.

ANONNON: "Contamination of the language"? A bit too late for that when every other word is borrowed from all languages, including the cringeworthy "falasi" (fallacy) and "besmen" (basement).

Ian2003: As it is, BM has already been contaminated to the core when “car park”, which ought to be "tempat letak kereta" has long become "parkir" and candle which ought to be "lilin" has become "kandil".

Language is an ever-evolving matter and it changes in accordance with circumstances. At the end of the day, it is a matter of communication, and if we understand each other, why would you want another form of regulation when educating is more important than a mere fine?

Kangkung: The government can't even decide whether to call the language Bahasa Melayu or Bahasa Malaysia, and they want to fine people for improper use of the language.

The greatest joke is, you will find tonnes of examples of government correspondences, signages and more in BM that are riddled with mistakes.

Anonymous_1392781899: Who are the ones who get to decide what is incorrect BM?

Is it a person who is qualified with a degree or doctorate who will penalise others? If a foreigner wrote poor BM, how do you penalise him as he is living overseas?

It's silly to implement a fine like this when it's very much subject to interpretation.

Quigonbond: For heaven's sake, the language will automatically correct itself and be spoken with plenty of passion if it reflects a nation that is progressive, punching above its weight and has enlightened leadership that not only inspires its citizens but people from around the world.

We have tried policing Islam, implying Malaysian Muslims are weak-willed. Now we are doing the same thing with BM, too? What next? Dialects? Clothes? The food we eat? Accessories people wear?

Observing The Nation: Why not empower the existing entities who approve the advertising permits to have another level of filtering?

For instance, if there is any advertisement using BM, it needs to be checked by a licensed BM expert at a relatively minimal cost (so as not to place too much of a burden on the existing ecosystem) before the advertising permits are given.

This will provide additional work opportunities and earnings for the people who are skilled at languages (they would need to have obtained licences as BM language experts).

Why would you merely penalise people for language usage? Do you want to promote the language or do you want to make people afraid of using it?

Ib: Who is going to get the fine money? The country is in need of funds. Isn't language a living thing that evolves, rather than dictated by some language police?

Anyway, the East Coast Rail Link project has demonstrated it is okay to do everything in Chinese - as long as you bring in big money.

KKKSSS: So which version of BM is not broken? Kelantanese, Johorean, Sabahan, “bahasa pasar”? Or old school like me, using “panggung wayang” vs “pawagam”? Are all these wrong?

Anonymous 444981488553970: Does the US, Britain, Australia or any other country in the world fine people for improper language? We must be the world’s first to do so.

Anonymous 2405391458108389: BM has a lot of borrowed words from other languages like English, Dutch, Chinese, Tamil, Hindi and Arabic, among others. This is because BM does not have its own complete language.

To avoid the fine, just simply adopt words from some other languages and you will be OK.

Perak Boleh: From now on, I will only put up advertisements in English, Tamil and Chinese to avoid being fined by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP).

My Opinion: Many lawyers can't even speak proper BM in court, what more advertisers. This is a bad law. Do they expect everybody to be perfect?

All people should go against this law. Might as well impose the RM1,000 fine on those students who don’t get a distinction for BM in their SPM.

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.

These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.