'National language audit' needed to measure Bahasa Melayu usage in local companies

BANGI: There is a need for the government to conduct a "national language audit" to measure whether Bahasa Melayu is given the appropriate usage in local companies and agencies, said Socio-cultural Advisor to the Government Tan Sri Rais Yatim.
In stating this, Rais acknowledged that certain government agencies and government-linked companies were more keen in using English as their medium of communication rather than utilising the national language.
"We need to set a guideline and audit on Bahasa Melayu as the national language, which need to be conducted every six months or once a year," he said.
"With the audit (we will know) which companies or banks that refuse to use the national language in their official business," he told reporters after the opening of 2017 Culture Congress at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia today.
The congress, which was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, also saw the passing of eleven resolutions which were aimed to bring the culture of Malaysia to a higher position.
Rais commented further that it was also necessary for another audit to be done to look into the achievement of bumiputra in terms of economy.
"There must be a data once a year. Currently, we do not know the ownership of property and shares owned by the Malay community," he said.
Meanwhile, Rais said it was not an issue whether the vernacular schools should be allowed to operate or not in order to strengthen the unity among multiracial Malaysians.
He said what needed to be done was for Bahasa Melayu to be empowered in the curriculum of the Chinese and Tamil schools.
"It does not matter where they want to study but it must be directed to the national aims that we have," he said.