PETALING JAYA, October 14 — Former Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming has questioned Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s recent remarks targeting elite groups over their preference for the English language. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Ong pointed out that many in Malaysia’s corporate world use English because it is the norm, not because they grew up in London.
Ong suggested that instead of singling out certain groups, Anwar could focus on new ways to promote the use of Bahasa Melayu, such as podcasts. He shared his own experience of using Malay more frequently after listening to the “Keluar Sekejap” podcast by Khairy Jamaluddin and Shahril Hamdan, emphasizing the potential for creative methods to boost the language’s prominence.
Earlier today, Anwar criticized some elites for their apparent obsession with English, stating that success doesn’t depend solely on mastering the language. He maintained that while English is important, there is a need to balance its use with an appreciation for Bahasa Melayu, the country’s national language.
