Friday June 15, 2007

It’s ‘Bahasa Malaysia’ for examinations starting this year

PUTRAJAYA: The subject “Bahasa Melayu” will be referred to as Bahasa Malaysia in public examinations from this year.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said there was still enough time for the changes to be made.

Since 1992, the subject has been known as Bahasa Melayu in both the Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) and Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations.

“The only problem is the books but we discussed this at our post-Cabinet meeting and decided that those that we can’t change in time, we won’t do so to avoid wastage,” he told reporters after presenting the Jalur Gemilang to the team of pupils representing Malaysia at the Danone Nations Cup 2007 in Lyon, France, at the end of the month.

New books would use the term Bahasa Malaysia, said Hishammuddin, who was commenting on the Cabinet decision to refer to the national language as Bahasa Malaysia rather than Bahasa Melayu.

“I am sure people will not fault us for using the books as it is only the wording which has changed. The content is still the same.”

Education director-general Datuk Dr Ahamad Sipon earlier said that a circular on the matter was sent out to all state education departments and ministry divisions on May 18.

On the team representing Malaysia, Hishammuddin said the 14 pupils from Penang would be sent to Slovakia for a week’s training from Tuesday.

“We will also keep an eye on them to ensure they can become good footballers for the country.”

The Danone Nations Cup tournament, staged annually since 2000, is open to pupils aged below 12, he said, adding that 40 countries would be taking part this year.

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