Why target elites when advocating greater use of Malay, asks ex-MP

Why target elites when advocating greater use of Malay, asks ex-MP

PETALING JAYA: A former MP has questioned Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s dig at elite groups when advocating for greater use of Bahasa Melayu earlier today.

“I’m not sure why the prime minister must target certain groups when highlighting the importance of the national language,” said Ong Kian Ming, former MP for Bangi, in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

“I’m quite sure many people in the corporate world in Malaysia communicate in English because that’s the usual practice, rather than the fact they grew up in London,” he added.

He said the prime minister should instead suggest new ideas and ways to boost one’s command and use of the national language, such as via podcasts.

Ong, who is Selangor DAP treasurer, said he had particularly found himself using and thinking in Malay more after regularly listening to the Keluar Sekejap podcast by Khairy Jamaluddin and Shahril Hamdan.

Earlier today, Anwar criticised certain elite groups for their apparent obsession with the English language, which has led them to underestimate the importance of Malay.

He said the belief that success and intelligence could only be achieved through the mastery of English was misguided, but maintained that he was not saying that English was not important.

In a jab at “those overly fixated on the English language”, the prime minister reminded them that they lived in Malaysia now though “they may have grown up in London”.