Bahasa Melayu could become Asean's lingua franca

BERA: The Malay language can become the lingua franca of Asean as it is spoken by over three-quarters of residents in the region.

Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the language was not only widely used in Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, but also in parts of Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.

"We hope champions of the Malay language can work on making Bahasa Melayu the official language for Asean countries," he told reporters after launching the Bera-level 2011 National Language Month here today.

Ismail Sabri, who is Bera MP, said Bahasa Melayu had once been the language of commerce during the Malacca Sultanate.

"However, this does not mean we are putting English and other native languages aside, instead it is an effort to uphold Bahasa Melayu in the region," he added.