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Published: Thursday November 5, 2009 MYT 5:02:00 PM

Dewan Bahasa to be given enforcement powers


KUALA LUMPUR: An amendment to the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Act 1959 will be tabled at the Cabinet next year to give DBP enforcement powers to enhance the use of Bahasa Malaysia, said Deputy Education Minister Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi.

He said the amendment was being checked by the Education Ministry’s legal advisers.

“The ‘bahasa rojak’ now frightens us, I am worried about this problem, and given the lessening use of Bahasa Malaysia in society, the amendment needs to be implemented.

“If before DBP could not enforce use of Bahasa Malaysia in society, we hope that with this amendment things will be different,” he said at a news conference after officiating the DBP Quality Day here Thursday.

He said he was also saddened with the situation where society was not fully committed to enhancing the use of Bahasa Malaysia and also the cold reception given in marking the national language month last month.

“We hope that before the Act is amended it is important to identify what needs to be done urgently in terms of DBP manpower, programmes and projects for the language,” he said. -- Bernama

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