Malaysia’s former leader Ismail Sabri Yaakob has proposed strengthening language regulations by expanding the authority of the national language institute. Speaking at an international symposium on Malay language aspirations, he advocated for legislative changes to empower Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka with enforcement capabilities against property developers using foreign names for local projects.
The ex-premier expressed concern over the growing trend of housing developments bearing French or Spanish names rather than Malaysian-inspired ones. He argued that current regulations lack teeth, as the language institute cannot currently penalize violators. This gap creates enforcement overlaps with municipal authorities while failing to protect linguistic heritage.
Beyond property naming conventions, Ismail Sabri pushed for broader adoption of Malay in official communications. He proposed that government correspondence should exclusively use the national language, even when dealing with international partners. For foreign events, he suggested employing translation services or subtitles to maintain Malay as the primary medium.
The former leader emphasized a top-down approach, starting with government institutions before extending requirements to private enterprises. His vision includes making Malay language usage a mandatory condition for official functions, asserting that “when the private sector invites us, it has to be on our terms.” These measures aim to elevate the status of Malaysia’s national language both domestically and internationally.