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Bahasa Malaysia Law


You could get into trouble with Malaysia law for clinging to lousy Malay.


How? Let's say you put up a public sign board. Later, people from Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka tell you the Malay language is incorrect and ask you to fix it. if you think:


"1. Ceh, DBP is not the lawyer !
2. It's going to cost $ to redo that darn sign board.
3. I think what I have written is cool."


...and subsequently ignore them. You consequently receive a "saman".


Better don't play-play because the Parliament has amended laws to empower DBP to mobilize about 159 "language police" at the time this web page is created, to report what is deemed as "polluted" Bahasa malaysia on public notices and to fine unrepentant offenders.


Wan understands commercial sign boards can cost a big hole in the wallet. So if you want to avoid the scenario at the outset, DBP says you can ask them first. They guarantee to clear your linguistic confusion within 72 hours. Hmmm has anyone called yet? Eh, don't give Wan the story about the Pakcik who phoned DBP about hamster...censored!


A quotable reaction from among our young people is, this beefed up Malaysia law makes Bahasa Malaysia a fine language...it's not fine for "good" but fine for "saman".


Since it is common knowledge "penangkapan maksiat" is zealously pursued, young people are worried "penangkapan pencemaran bahasa" may similarly go beyond the sign boards, with maximum RM1,000 penalty looming over their heads.


But it seems DBP has reasonable approach towards its legal muscles. Says DBP Chief Director Datuk Firdaus Abdullah:


" Kami nak tegaskan di sini sekalipun kami diberi kuasa sebagai pendakwa kepada pencemar bahasa, kami tetap mahu dikenali sebagai pendakwah bahasa. Tindakan punitif hanya akan kami ambil sebagai jalan terakhir."


"We wish to emphasize here even though we are empowered to act as a prosecutor to the language polluter, we still wish to be known as the preacher of the language. We resort to punitive measure only as the last straw."


Ahem! That reminds Wan to "preach" about "Bahasa Malaysia Law" that you shouldn't break.


Peringatan---Jangan anda melanggar Undang-undang Bahasa Malaysia yang mana satu?


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