Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin wants the country's biggest and oldest student group, Peninsular Malay Students Federation (GPMS), to befriend non-Malay students.

However, there is a caveat: Zainuddin said such a move by GPMS is necessary as it would assist the government in strengthening Bahasa Malaysia as the national language.

According to the minister, the government's efforts to promote Bahasa Malaysia was hamppered by jingoism, as certain groups believe that the language was only for the Malays.

"Bahasa Malaysia has been projected as only for the Malay community. This is such a narrow approach," he said in a Bernama report today.

Zainuddin was speaking to reporters after officiating the GPMS 57th annual general meeting in Kuala Lumpur today, urged GPMS to be universal in nature.

Wee must be punished

In another development, GPMS president Reezal Merican Naina Merican told reporters that the government should take action against student Wee Meng Chee for insulting the national anthem.

Reezal said GPMS was 'ready' to accept Wee's apology but insist that action be taken on him.

Wee's six-minute clip on video sharing website YouTube courted was condemned by government officials who claimed that his composition had insulted Islam and Malays.

The student subsequently issued an apology but government officials are still adamant that he must be booked for his actions.