The launch of the National Education Development Plan (RPN) 2026–2035 marks a pivotal moment in Malaysia’s ambition to become a global education hub, with language emerging as a strategic pillar amid rapid digitalisation and global engagement.
As highlighted by Dr Prema Ponnudurai of Taylor’s University, who notes that while multilingualism strengthens social cohesion and economic competitiveness, the rise of digital culture and social media is reshaping how language is formed, used and understood.
As new digital-era terms gain mainstream recognition and informal online language accelerates among younger generations, she stresses the need for a coordinated national language strategy that preserves indigenous and national languages.
Enhances regional and global language proficiency, and leverages localised AI tools, urging policymakers and educators to proactively guide linguistic evolution so Malaysia can balance innovation with heritage and confidently navigate the shift from speaking to scrolling.
