Dewan Bahasa: Proposed RM50k fine, jail for disrespecting BM
DBP board of governors chairperson Prof Awang Sariyan said the two punishments were among proposed amendments that are in the final stage of discussion before being presented to the prime minister next month.
“This is not about grammar or spelling errors, but...
Individuals who do not respect the national language can be fined up to RM50,000 or jailed in proposed amendments to the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Act 1959.
DBP board of governors chairperson Prof Awang Sariyan said the two punishments were among proposed amendments that are in the final stage of discussion before being presented to the prime minister next month.
“This is not about grammar or spelling errors, but disrespect for the national language. The proposed fine is not to punish but to evoke love and patriotism to the country,” he told reporters after attending DBP's 66th anniversary event in Kuala Lumpur today.
It was previously reported that the government will amend the DBP Act to allow the statutory body to take action against any violation of Bahasa Melayu usage, including at the district level.
Awang (above) said DBP also proposed that the National Language Act be amended in line with the amendments to the DBP Act so that it can carry out its duties as a language enforcer more effectively.
“The National Language Act is the parent act to the DBP Act. If it is expanded, the government can ask DBP to implement the language policy more effectively,” he said.
On the amendments, he said it should be implemented holistically, not only in terms of enforcement but also in the aspect of internationalisation, accreditation, and licencing of literary languages.
- Bernama
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