Revive Malay Studies Chairs in foreign universities - Awang Sariyan

KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 (Bernama) -- The Institute of the Malay World and Civilization (ATMA) has proposed that the Malay Studies chairs in foreign institutions of higher learning that were once established by the government be revived in order to further elevate the position of Bahasa Melayu in the world.

Its director Prof Datuk Seri Dr Awang Sariyan said among the places deemed critical were chairs in 15 universities in China that offered bachelor's degrees in Malay Studies, so that there could be better coordination.

"Similarly, the Malay Studies chairs in Europe and Australia which offer many Malay language programmes needs to be revived," he said when appearing as a panelist in the 8th series of the ‘Minda Profesor Negara’ programme on the topic: ‘Potential of Bahasa Melayu on the International Stage’ which was broadcast on the National Council of Professors’ Facebook page tonight.

Awang, who is also Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka board chairman said ATMA was also entrusted by the Ministry of Higher Education to be the secretariat for programmes to develop and introduce Bahasa Melayu in institutes of higher learning (IPT) in ASEAN countries.

"Hopefully, it can continue to be the language of ASEAN, as that is what we have been fighting for since the 1980s.

"If we need time, then we can strategically propose that at first, Bahasa Melayu be accepted as the second official language of ASEAN, and sooner or later, hopefully, ASEAN countries will be more open to accepting Malay as the first official language," he said.

He said the move could definitely be achieved through IPTs, and studies conducted had identified almost 20 universities, for example, Thaksin University in Thailand, that had a Bahasa Melayu department of their own.

In the meantime, Awang said Malaysia could also emulate China which had created many faculties of foreign studies that served as windows to learn more about the world’s civilisations.

For example, he said the Beijing University of Foreign Studies (BSFU) in China had more than 100 foreign languages, showing that the country understood the role and strength of foreign languages.

"In the end, that's how China managed to become the world’s largest economic power," he said.

Recalling his time as the professor of Malay Studies at BSFU, Awang said he had asked BSFU’s president on the university’s purpose of offering so many foreign studies.

“The answer given to me was that China was not interested in becoming a ‘world police’, but rather wished to spread the wings of its economy by getting to know more about other nations through foreign studies,” he said, adding that the post of the Malay Studies Chair at BSFU was also a huge credit and recognition to Bahasa Melayu.

-- BERNAMA