Ismail said he had discussed the idea with Indonesian president Joko Widodo when he was the prime minister in 2022.

He said that by making Malay Asean’s second language it would elevate the language in the region.

“I hope the prime minister will relay this view (to the Asean members),” he told reporters on the sidelines of an event here today.

Ismail said even if making Malay Asean’s second language is not a main agenda at the Asean summit, he hopes the country’s leaders would speak in Malay.

“Maybe that could influence other countries (to do the same), like Thailand and Cambodia, where many speak Malay.”

In 2022, Ismail had proposed the use of Malay as Asean’s second language, in efforts to elevate the national language at the international level.

He said that apart from Malaysia, Malay was used as a medium of instruction in several neighbouring countries such as Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore as well as in southern Thailand, southern Philippines and in parts of Cambodia.

He also pointed out then that only four out of the 10 Asean countries used English in official events at the international level, while the others used their national languages in their official affairs.