KUCHING: National identity is not built by forcing people to abandon their mother tongue, but by making Bahasa Melayu (BM) a common ground respected by all, says Institut Pendidikan Guru (IPG) Kampus Tun Abdul Razak, Kota Samarahan Department of Malay Studies lecturer Nur Effariza Taib.
Nur Effariza said BM is more than a tool for communication as it is the space where Malaysians share meanings, values, and life experiences.
In her classrooms, she has observed how the language serves as a bridge among students from diverse backgrounds, fostering a sense of togetherness through discussion, debate, and writing.
“The national language is the cornerstone of national identity, especially in a multilingual society like Malaysia. Its role is not to erase differences but to create common ground.
“The Constitution has established BM as the national language. Yet, more importantly, its significance in daily life is that it unites public discourse, knowledge, administration, and culture. Without a common language, national identity can easily fragment into small, isolated groups,” she told Sarawak Tribune.
She added that proficiency in BM does not automatically reflect loyalty to the country.
“Some students love Malaysia deeply, yet their education offers fewer opportunities to use BM extensively. What matters is the attitude toward the national language, respecting it, making an effort to learn it, and using it in public spaces,” she stated.
She asserted that Malaysia’s linguistic comes in diversity, including mother tongues such as Mandarin, Tamil, Iban, and Kadazan, and others does not undermine national identity.
“On the contrary, it enriches the uniqueness of Malaysia’s multiethnic society,” she said.
Nur Effariza outlined three critical functions of BM, among which are to promote social unity by allowing people to communicate without exclusion, serving administrative and educational needs across courts, schools, and public services, and symbolizing national sovereignty alongside the flag and national anthem.
On the balance between mother’s tongue education and national language proficiency, she said the education system must ensure that BM is taught to an equivalent standard across all school streams, while preserving mother tongue languages as part of cultural heritage.
“Schools should encourage the use of BM in inter-school, university, and community activities, creating citizens who are multilingual yet deeply Malaysian at heart.
“This approach is more constructive than a punitive tone. Our ultimate goal is to nurture citizens who are multilingual yet deeply Malaysian at heart.
“As an educator, I believe language issues should not be seen merely as political matters, but as questions of education, attitude, and spaces for interaction,” she said.
