IPOH: The improper use of Bahasa Melayu, particularly on social media, has raised serious concerns among Malaysians, particularly when the national language, meant to symbolise identity and unity, is being misused to insult and demean others, ultimately tarnishing the dignity of the language itself.
In today's digital era, the irresponsible use of Bahasa Melayu can easily spark misunderstandings and conflicts, highlighting the importance of promoting proper and respectful language use—an obligation that must not be ignored.
Commenting on the issue, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Department of Malay Language and Literature, Faculty of Languages and Communication, senior lecturer, Associate Prof Dr. Norliza Jamaluddin, acknowledged that some netizens tend to shame and humiliate people by labeling them, without considering their feelings, religion, or ethnicity.
She noted that this behaviour is particularly evident on social media, where users frequently lack restraint when posting comments, sharing opinions, or spreading information without thinking of the potential impact on others.
"In cases like celebrity divorces, for example, people are quick to make unfounded assumptions and use disrespectful language," she told Bernama.
To make matters worse, these offensive remarks are often supported by others, fueling the spread of inappropriate language and ultimately disrupting social harmony.
Norliza pointed out that the use of harsh and impolite language not only affects the targeted individuals but also creates an unhealthy social environment.
She added that constant exposure to negative language can impact a person's mental well-being and lead to more serious issues, including the risk of suicide.
She advocates for stricter penalties against those who misuse the national language for insults and slander, as a way to educate the public and encourage greater responsibility in the use of Bahasa Melayu across all platforms.
Meanwhile, Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah Corporate Communication lecturer, Dr. Salina Khalid, attributed the availability of a wide range of social media platforms as a major factor in the decline of proper use of the national language, despite its potential as a platform to elevate the language.
"In social media, the proper use of Bahasa Melayu is rare, as the main goal is to merely communicate messages so that the information is conveyed and understood," she said.
"This is drastically different from how the language is used in literature, formal events, official ceremonies, and other activities where Bahasa Melayu is employed with full etiquette and decorum," she added.
She explained that the late national economic and education figure, Royal Professor Ungku Abdul Aziz Ungku Abdul Hamid, had once highlighted the impact of using mixed language, or Manglish, which prevents individuals from mastering either Bahasa Melayu or English.
"Using a blend of languages weakens a person's linguistic abilities, as they fail to excel in either language, and this detracts from the notion that language is the soul of a nation," she said.
She emphasised that there is no need to use overly complex words; simply spelling out full words without mixing two languages, as practised on social media with Manglish, would help elevate the status of the national language.
The month of October is recognised as National Language Month, an important initiative aimed at promoting and strengthening the use of Bahasa Melayu as the national language.
The official launch of National Language Month 2024, themed "Bahasa Jiwa Bangsa: Sayangi Bahasa Sayangi Negara" (Language is the Soul of a Nation: Love the Language, Love the Country), will be officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the Ipoh Convention Centre, Perak, on Sunday. – BERNAMA