National Language Month

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said, in line with the government's decision to declare October as National Language Month, all ministries, state governments and government agencies are ordered to implement levels of each language during the month.

Deputy prime minister said the move was the government's efforts to raise public awareness about the importance of national language as a vehicle of solidarity and communication language.

"The activities of national language and literature will be enhanced during this month to spur the use of national language in our society," he said at the launch of National Language Month, a national level in the Unity Stadium, Petra Jaya, Kuching.

Sarawak is chosen to host the event, themed "Soul Nation Language" because there are many people who live in harmony and can be the icon of 1Malaysia.

Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said the various events organized during this month provides the opportunity for people to involve in various activities of the national language and literature.

"The government will also introduce Anugerah Tokoh Ilmuwan Negara starting next year as a appreciation to ilmuwan in countries that give their commitment to uplift the status of national language as the language of science, language development and language of high culture," he said.

He said the award will be given to qualified recipients during the celebration of National Language Month.

Muhyiddin also asks higher education institutions, agencies such as Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) and Institut Terjemahan Negara Malaysia (ITNM) and ilmuwan work together to produce more scientific papers in the national language, especially in science and technology.

He said there is a good opportunity to promote the use of national languages within the wider due to the position of the Malay language which is in fifth place as the world's major languages with 300 million people use this language today.