Why Bahasa Melayu Isn't Dying: What It Needs to Thrive

In Malaysia, language encompasses far more than just words. It bears witness to our history, bridges divides between us, and helps shape our understanding of identity.

So, when people raise worries regarding the prospects of Bahasa Malyau , particularly concerning its position within the younger generation, these issues shouldn't be dismissed lightly. However, they also shouldn't provoke panic.

The issue isn't about Malay being neglected, but rather that we haven't sufficiently supported its growth in the areas where young Malaysians reside, study, and communicate.

What we're observing isn’t the vanishing of Malay, but rather the challenges faced by a multilingual country as it adapts toglobalization, digital shifts, and uneven educational opportunities. Responding to these transformations with apprehension or fearful measures would merely limit potential advancements.

What we need instead is linguistic confidence: the belief that Bahasa Melayu can flourish alongside other languages, not despite them.

Why the anxiety?

Malay, as outlined in Article 152 of the Constitution, continues to be vital for Malay identity. However, concerns about its standing compared to English frequently overlook broader realities.

The usage of language is never merely about allegiance; it is formed by opportunities, accessibility, and contexts.

In city-dwelling young people, switching between Malay and English is now part of their daily routine. This helps them navigate from WhatsApp messages to class debates, and from TikTok fads to professional conversations during job interviews.

This flexibility isn’t a denial of Malay; rather, it’s a practical adjustment to a multilingual, interconnected global society.

Instead of viewing it as a menace, we could interpret it as a sign of cultural adaptability — an indication of how Malaysians lead and converse in their daily lives now.

The issue lies with structure, not prestige.

The dominance of English in science, technology and higher education is not simply the result of Malaysians glorifying foreign languages. It reflects structural imbalances in the global production and circulation of knowledge.

A 2022 analysis by Neylon and Kramer found that over 90 per cent of scholarly publications with declared language metadata are in English. Non-English contributions make up just under 10 per cent, with Spanish, Portuguese and Russian trailing behind.

This asymmetry plays out in Malaysia too, where most academic journals, digital tools and educational resources are in English – not because of cultural betrayal, but because global knowledge infrastructures continue to centre English as the default.

Rather than faulting people for choosing English in professional settings, we ought to question why our systems have rendered it the sole practical choice.

Lessons from elsewhere

Several nations have addressed these challenges head-on. For instance, in South Korea, the National Institute of Korean Language (NIKL) initiated projects such as Urimalsaem, an open-source dictionary designed to keep the Korean language up-to-date with technological advancements.

Malaysia’s Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) has attempted to standardize terms such as kecerdasan buatan (artificial intelligence). However, these endeavors necessitate stronger institutional backing, increased financial resources, and more substantial public involvement.

Finland offers another example: Despite widespread use of English in technology and academic fields, Finnish continues to be the predominant language in public spheres. In this country, being multilingual hasn’t weakened national identity; rather, it has reinforced it.

From enforcement to empowerment

Breathing new life into Bahasa Melayu requires more than just lofty speeches or strict top-down rules.

This necessitates strategic, long-term investments in the settings where languages are used daily. In other words:

Enhancing STEM education in Malaysian schools

While there are efforts to localise STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) content, they remain inconsistent and under-resourced. Translating high-quality scientific material, building technical glossaries, and supporting publication in Malay are essential. But these resources must also be pedagogically sound and meaningfully integrated into the education system.

Embedding Malay in the digital ecosystem

Bahasa Melayu must be visible and usable across the platforms that shape daily life. Its integration into apps, AI tools, and online commerce should be proactive – not an afterthought. Strategic partnerships with tech developers could ensure that Malay is not just translated into these spaces but designed into them.

Supporting creativity and cultural representation

If we want Malay to breathe beyond classrooms and government offices, we must invest in its presence across art, gaming, entertainment, and digital storytelling. Models like France’s “Netflix tax” or Korea’s cultural export strategies offer examples of how policy can empower creators to produce in their national languages.

Ireland offers a cautionary tale: although Irish Gaelic is compulsory in schools and holds strong symbolic value, its marginal presence in pop culture and everyday media has limited its fluency and everyday use. Without a living cultural ecosystem, even constitutionally protected languages risk becoming ceremonial rather than lived.

Astro’s DidikTV is a step in the right direction, but for a vibrant language to flourish, we need more than just public broadcasting. It demands varied, autonomous channels where Malay isn’t merely studied but used as a medium to create, share laughter, and experience life.

Recalibrating bilingual education

Malaysia’s Dual Language Programme (DLP) holds promise, yet its politicization has hindered its effectiveness. Instead of establishing a ranking among languages, the aim ought to be proficiency in multiple languages—especially for pupils from rural areas and those with limited resources. Despite its shortcomings, Singapore’s bilingual approach demonstrates how consistent and adequately funded language education could function.

Letting Bahasa Melayu live

Bahasa Melayu is not fading away—it’s evolving. Similar to every dynamic language, it requires space for growth. This involves nurturing environments where language can thrive: from scientific laboratories and TikTok clips, to discussions about policies and catchy song lines, as well as within internet memes, educational settings, and programming codes.

This isn’t ambiguity – it’s dynamism. A language that appears in various forms and tones is not diminished by diversity; instead, it is enriched by its applicability.

Certainly, not everybody would view it similarly. To many, straying from conventional formats might seem akin to deterioration. This worry stems from genuine care. However, safeguarding our heritage should not hinder involvement and engagement.

Bahasa Melayu does not require protection via shame or fear; instead, it needs to be trusted and handed over to those who are studying it, embracing it, and boldly making it part of themselves.

A language won’t prosper under scrutiny; it flourishes when permitted to evolve, adapt, and remain current.

The future of Bahasa Melayu won't be shaped through exclusivity but through creativity. It will thrive via the bravery to allow it to expand into every possible world that future Malaysians dare to construct.

Siti Nurnadilla Mohamad Jamil serves as an Associate Lecturer at the Department of English Language and Literature within the AHAS Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences at the International Islamic University Malaysia. The opinions presented in this piece are solely her own and do not necessarily represent the perspectives of Sinar Daily.