Children should master the Malay language up to the ages of seven or eight before focusing on other languages such as English, says an academic.
In a Harian Metro report, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) associate professor Azizah Zain said the growing trend of urban pupils using English as their main spoken language could undermine the nation’s cultural identity.
Azizah, a senior lecturer at the university’s early childhood education department, said Malay should be firmly established as both the mother tongue and national language before children move on to a second language.
“English is undeniably important, but when it becomes the dominant language in daily communication, we must ask ourselves whether this threatens the role of Malay as the national language,” she said.
“Mastering two languages is beneficial, but we must remember that the hierarchy of languages is important in early childhood development. Malay should first be firmly established before children move on to a second language.
“Malay is not merely a means of communication; it embodies our cultural identity. Children who grow up more comfortable in English may lose touch with the values and nuances embedded in the Malay language.”
Azizah acknowledged that English offers advantages such as global communication skills, access to knowledge and better job prospects.
However, she maintained that children who developed a solid foundation in Malay before learning English were likely to be more effective than those who adopted English as their primary language from an early age.
She cautioned that the greatest danger lies in children becoming increasingly “alienated” from the Malay language and culture.
To counter this, she urged parents to instil a love for Malay at home by encouraging their children to think in the language and exposing them to traditional literature like pantun, syair and folktales.
Azizah also called on schools to reaffirm Malay as the main medium of instruction, with English taught as a supplementary subject.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has consistently underlined the importance of strengthening English skills nationwide. Earlier this month, he urged the education ministry to intensify initiatives aimed at improving English proficiency, describing it as vital to Malaysia’s global competitiveness.
In a Bernama report, he also stressed that Malay, as the national language, must be upheld as a unifying force for all Malaysians.
