KING’S DECREE REINFORCES BAHASA MELAYU’S ROLE AS SYMBOL OF NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY - PENA

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- The Royal Address by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, at the opening of the fifth session of the 15th Parliament reflects his authority in reinforcing the role of Bahasa Melayu as a symbol of sovereignty and national identity, the National Writers Association of Malaysia (PENA) said.

PENA president Dr Mohamad Saleeh said His Majesty’s firmness was crucial in facing the present situation, particularly as some quarters appeared to dare to challenge the position of Bahasa Melayu, emphasising that the Constitution of a sovereign nation must be respected.

“PENA welcomes Sultan Ibrahim’s royal address, which emphasises the importance of upholding Bahasa Melayu as the national language.

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“Provocations by certain political players to the extent of challenging the Constitution could pose a threat to the country’s harmony and stability. Bahasa Melayu must not be used as a bargaining chip in power struggles,” he said in a statement today.

Mohamad said that upholding His Majesty’s decree was also in line with the national ideology enshrined in the Rukun Negara.

“Challenging the ‘pasak negara’ (pillar of the country) will only result in instability,” he added.

Meanwhile, Federation of Peninsula Malay Students Association (GPMS) secretary-general Wafiyuddin Musa described the King’s decree as an authoritative statement that not only reinforced the role of Bahasa Melayu as a symbol of sovereignty and national identity, but also served as a key foundation for building a strong nation.

“This is due to the fact that a strong education system centred on the national language serves as the foundation of identity formation and fosters understanding of the country’s history as well as harmony among people of different races,” he said.

Wafiyuddin said that strengthening Bahasa Melayu did not mean sidelining other languages, but was intended to ensure that the foundations of education and national unity were on solid ground and in accordance with the Federal Constitution.

He added that Bahasa Melayu serves as a unifying tool for Malaysians, ensuring that every individual understands and respects the country’s history and core values.

“GPMS believes that strengthening the national language at all levels of education will enhance national unity, foster loyalty to the country, and provide opportunities for the younger generation to remain competitive in the global arena, without neglecting the nation’s cultural roots and core values,” he said.

--BERNAMA