Budget 2025: RM50 Mln Allocation Will Boost DBP's Language, Literature Initiatives

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- The RM50 million allocation provided by the government to the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Budget 2025 is anticipated to bolster the strategic goals outlined in the DBP Strategic Plan 2021-2025, said DBP director-general Dr Hazami Jahari.

He expressed hope that the initiative announced by the MADANI Government would keep language and literature activities vibrant and serve as a vital tool in educating the MADANI community.

“The effort to translate the nation’s great literary works into other languages and the world’s masterpieces into the national language has been strongly encouraged since Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim assumed office, emphasising the importance of promoting creative and critical thinking.

“Malay masterpieces play a vital role in preserving the nation’s identity and culture. These works not only reflect our history and traditions but also embody moral and ethical values that remain relevant across generations,” he told a press conference at Menara DBP here today.

Through Budget 2025, which was tabled on October 18, the government announced an allocation of RM50 million for DBP to work with language activists to intensify language and literature activities, especially among the younger generation.

The efforts include translating masterpieces, organising plays and preserving the languages of minorities such as ethnic Siamese.

Hazami said that the government's initiative to support DBP in undertaking the translation and publication of masterpieces, as well as in disseminating national literary works, has been in place since 2023.

“This year, we, together with the Malaysian Institute of Translation and Books and Yayasan Karyawan, will carry on with the implementation of the Budget 2024 Initiative: Ikhtiar 11 - Strengthening Unity and Security, Third Matter - Sports and Culture as a Means of Unity (Culture, Language, and Literature),” he said.

-- BERNAMA