From Bahasa Melayu-Malaysia-Kebangsaan-Melayu to Bahasa Malaysia
Tuesday, June 5th, 2007 | 12:49 am @ SK
Just like how the title sounds, we’re indeed back to square.
As usual, when the great minister Zainuddin Maidin sings, everyone listens. Blogger Unspun in Jakarta pays attention too, however unlike previous days, he can’t be bothered.
If Unspun was still living in Malaysia, Unspun would be angry, frustrated and mad. But Unspun is not living there so he is amused instead by the latest name change to the national language there.It used to be called Bahasa Melayu, then the government changed it to Bahasa Malaysia, then somewhere it was Bahasa Kebangsaan, then Bahasa Melayu, then now Bahasa Malaysia again. […]
Indonesia may have many problems, but certainly not an identity problem. […]
In Indonesia, the national language is Bahasa Indonesia which everyone will happily tell you is derived from Bahasa Melayu, which was the predominant language of trade at the time of the founding of the Republik.
They use it out of practicality and would laugh if anyone has the temerity and lack of common sense to call it Bahasa Kebangsaan. The question that would crop up in Indonesia is, whose bangsa? the Javanese, the Sundanese, the Bataks, the Ambonese, the Indos, the peranakan Chinese, the Manadoans? But they all happily use the language deftly to trade, to communicate to spread a culture that transcends race, culture and provinces to unite a nation.
While we’re moving towards the 50 years of nationhood, it’s obvious that we’re in dire need of a national identity.
If we can’t even decide on a proper naming convention of our national language, what’s else out there for us to dream about?
June 5th, 2007 at 12:51 am
but what is in a name? as long as it gets the job ( of communication ) done? dono, i feel that it’s a non-issue. maybe no one takes *ahem* seriously anyway :p
June 5th, 2007 at 2:00 am
Make it short BM and close the case la… Government these days very free nothing to do so make something out so all of us got something to blog lo… But make sure blog nice thing ar…
June 5th, 2007 at 3:06 am
This country is going to be very famous for the new age culture of flip-floppin’ very soon. Hip-hop is so dead.
June 5th, 2007 at 6:09 am
Flip-flop in the in-thing with our government. *sigh* What do we do with promises of no more flip-flops? Call them liars?
June 5th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Who cares about the name of a language spoken by an soon-extinct human race…
June 5th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Here in Kabul…we always used "Bahasa Malaysia" no matter what the thick-skinned politicians back in Malaysia do to rename things…
September 6th, 2007 at 9:57 am
March 6th, 2008 at 7:35 am
I left Malaysia in 1967. I learnt a Malay song, called "Bahasa Kebangsaan" in schoold. The song was taught in all schools in Malaysia. I wish I could get the song and the words for a special event. Do you think you could help or let me know how to get it myself throughany contack ?
Alex Liew
Tel: 416-297-8776
May 15th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
I’m an Indonesian. I want to learn more about Bahasa Melayu Malaysia. Because I will make a research about similarities and differences between Melayu Malaysia, Melayu Indonesia and Melayu Brunei. Would you mind to help me seeking information about that?
May 20th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Melayu is ‘bangsa’. Malaysia is ‘negara’. Bahasa berasal dari bangsa bukan negara, so I think Bahasa Melayu is most appropriate.