KUALA LUMPUR, September 24 — Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has urged the government to amend the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Act, allowing the department to penalize property developers using foreign names for their projects. Speaking at the “Simposium Antarabangsa Aspirasi Bahasa Melayu,” Ismail expressed concern over the increasing use of French and Spanish names, which he said undermines the prominence of the Malay language in Malaysia.
He proposed empowering Dewan Bahasa to impose fines on developers and suggested that the government lead by example by using Malay for all official purposes. Ismail also called for requiring private sector engagements with the government to be conducted in the national language, including events with international guests, with translation support provided. This, he argued, would reinforce the standing of Malay both locally and globally.
