A Malaysian digital creator is sharing his regret over not mastering Bahasa Melayu during his schooling days, as it now hinders his daily life and business operations
The digital creator, Vincent Tan, took to his Facebook page to share this while first explaining how he was afraid to attend Malay language classes during his schooling days due to his lack of understanding the language.
He wrote, “I attended a national-type Chinese primary school (SJKC) from Standard One. But, to be honest, I’ve always struggled with Bahasa Melayu. Perhaps it’s a language ability issue, or perhaps it’s the environment, but I instinctively resisted the national language.”
“I was afraid of Malay language classes. I didn’t hand in my homework and failed exams. I passed all other subjects, but Bahasa Melayu was always my Achilles’ heel.”
Despite his family’s efforts to make tutoring available to him, he still showed no improvement in his Malay language skills.
He went on to explain that his avoidance of Bahasa Melayu continued well into his secondary schooling days, during which he had gone to a Chinese secondary school.
“The reason was simple – if I went to a national secondary school, it wouldn’t just be learning Malay, but all subjects like mathematics and science would be taught in the national language, making even daily communication a problem. This escape lasted for 6 years.”
He eventually managed to memorise enough Bahasa Melayu to help him obtain an ‘8E’, which is a passing grade, for the subject during his SPM examination.
However, after his SPM examinations, he attempted to ‘escape’ again through his consideration of pursuing further studies in Taiwan, but he ultimately decided to stay in Malaysia.
“I deeply regret it”
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Vincent’s problems started when he entered the workforce, where he discovered that he could barely communicate.
“In the workplace, many colleagues are Malay. When ordering food, most waiters speak in Bahasa Melayu. Government departments were almost entirely run in the language, because it is the official language of Malaysia. Most documents are also primarily in Bahasa Melayu. English translations are only ‘additional’, not mandatory,” he shared.
His lack of Bahasa Melayu skills also affected how he runs his business.
“Later, when I started my own business, I had to deal with administrative tasks, read documents and handle procedures, and because my BM wasn’t good, I often had to ask a runner for help. If you ask me, ‘Do you regret it?‘, I deeply regret it.”
“I regret how I kept running away back then, why I didn’t study properly, and I regret that no one truly told us then, how important this matter would be in the future.”
More than just a language
He went on to explain that Bahasa Melayu is not just a language but a way to become unified through communication.
“Malaysia is a multi-ethnic country. I truly believe that language is very important. Language is the bridge to communication. For the country to achieve unity and integrity, it must have a common language. And this common language was determined the moment we were born in Malaysia, which is Bahasa Melayu.”
“Chinese is our mother tongue, the culture left by our ancestors, and we cannot forget it. English is a global language; mastering it allows us to connect with the world. But, in a country where 60% to 70% of the population uses Bahasa Melayu daily, if we don’t know the national language at all, can we truly integrate into this society?”
He ended his post by emphasising that learning Bahasa Melayu does not mean one is forgetting their ancestors or culture, but it can allow for better communication, understanding and harmony. He also urged the general public not to be swayed by political rhetoric.
What do you think about this? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
Also read: Yang di-Pertuan Agong: Those Who Cannot Accept BM in Education System Should Not Live in M’sia
