“The Malay language has its own uniqueness and advantages, especially among Asean countries. Therefore, it can be made one of the official languages of Asean,” he said when opening the International Symposium on Bahasa Melayu here today.

Ismail said at the Asean level, the integration on the use of the Rumi spelling system and terminology had been achieved through forums such as the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia Language Council and the Southeast Asian Literary Council.

Therefore, he said, the Malay language should be upheld in the country, including by amending the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Act 1959 to empower the body to carry out enforcement against offences involving the use of the language.

He also expressed the need for efforts to be made to expand the teaching and use of the Malay language in higher education institutions in the country.

The prime minister said Malaysia and its citizens should have their own identity and prove that upholding the Malay language had not hampered the country’s progress as many countries had achieved developed status by sticking to their national languages.

Citing the Malay proverb “Di mana bumi dipijak, di situ langit dijunjung” (or When in Rome, do as the Romans do), Ismail Sabri said only then the Malay language could be a tool to forge national unity.

According to the prime minister, during the Asean-United States special summit in Washington recently, he also spoke in Malay, including at bilateral talks with other countries at the summit.

Letters he sent to world leaders were also in the Malay language with translations in English, he said.