KUCHING: The Malaysian Translators Association (PPM) has called for a stronger national commitment towards elevating the field of translation, especially in nurturing a generation of translators who are both linguistically proficient and culturally sensitive.
PPM President, Dr Hasuria Che Omar, described the four-day gathering as a significant milestone in the national discourse on translation.
“Translation is not merely the act of converting words.
“It is a bridge that connects civilisations, facilitates understanding, and safeguards cultural heritage,” she said in her closing remarks at the International Translation Conference 2025 held at the Riverside Majestic today.
Hasuria stressed that translation must be recognised as a strategic national asset, especially in a country as multilingual and multicultural as Malaysia, and urged policymakers, higher education institutions, and industry leaders to collaborate in strengthening translation education, research, and professional pathways.
“We must move beyond treating translation as an auxiliary service.
“It is an enabler of diplomacy, education, technology and national unity,” she said.
She added that the success of the conference, which brought together academics, practitioners, policymakers and students, proved that Malaysia has the intellectual capital and institutional support to become a regional hub for translation studies and practice.
She also expressed gratitude to Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) for its role as host, noting that the event had generated numerous proposals for future collaborations, including the development of national terminology banks, AI-driven translation tools, and inter-institutional training modules.
Furthermore, she congratulated Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) for being selected as the next host of the biennial conference in 2027, and expressed hope that the momentum generated in Kuching would be carried forward.
“The torch is now passed to UKM,” she said.
“We look forward to seeing how they will continue this mission to champion the profession and expand Malaysia’s influence in the global translation ecosystem.”
