“Many would fail BM test” – M’sian Professor Says Citizenship Means Little If Citizens Fail to Master the National Language

A local professor proficiency in Bahasa Melayu (BM) should be a basic requirement for every citizen, as the language is not only the national language but also the official language that must be used in the country’s system of governance.

Due to that, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Ethnic Studies (KITA), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Prof Datuk Dr Teo Kok Seong, said Malaysian citizenship means little if a citizen fails to master the national language, according to Utusan Malaysia.

Malaysian allegedly reprimanded by Immigration officer after unable able to speak BM

Dr Kok Seong also brought up a recent controversial case involving a non-Malay individual who allegedly could not speak BM while dealing with the Immigration Department to renew their passport. The individual was reportedly reprimanded by an immigration officer.

He said the incident later prompted a leader to call for action against the officer, but there was little wider discussion about the importance of improving BM proficiency among Malaysians.

“This is an important national issue, but unfortunately, it has never really been discussed, especially by our politicians,” he said.

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“Lack of BM proficiency among Malaysians is a serious issue” 

Dr Kok Seong stressed that having a good command of BM is important, especially as BM is the main medium of instruction in the country’s education system and the official language used in administration, law, and government affairs.

He described the lack of BM proficiency among some Malaysians as a serious issue, adding that many could potentially fail if all citizens were required to take a test to assess their command of the language.

“There are still many Malaysians who are citizens but do not have a good command of the language of this country.

“It is essential for citizens of a country not only to know but also to master the language of their country. It is unfortunate that, apart from Singapore, Malaysia is also a country where its own citizens do not know or have a good command of the national language,” he said.

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Also read: SMK Teacher Vents Frustration Over Chinese Students’ Poor BM Proficiency, Says It Hinders Teaching