'Unrealistic' to compel private companies to use BM in official comms

KUALA LUMPUR: It is unrealistic for the government to make it compulsory for the private sector to use Bahasa Malaysia in their official communications.
Deputy Education minister Datuk Chong Sin Woon said although such regulations exist in the government sector, the same move cannot be implemented in the private sector.
"There is no enforcement for private companies. In business, the usage of other languages must be allowed, especially for those dealing in businesses with foreign countries.
"If we want to make a regulation for all official letters to be made in BM, it will be unrealistic.
However, we have enforced for official letters among government agencies to be in BM," he told the Dewan Rakyat during the question and answer session.
He was responding to a supplementary question from Siti Mariah Mahmud (Amanah – Kota Raja) on whether the government has any plans to make it compulsory for both the government and private sector to produce their official letters in BM.
Chong said the burden to improve the usage of BM among Malaysians should not be placed on his ministry alone as it requires the cooperation of all parties.
He also urged the private sector, non-governmental organisations and the public to play their role to ensure a comprehensive usage of the national language.
He added the government was serious in its effort in upholding the status of BM, with various initiatives being undertaken with cooperation from other stakeholders.