Speak in Malay when at Parliament or resign, former minister says

(Malay Mail Online) – MPs have no reason to use English in Parliament and those who are adamant on doing so should resign, a former minister said today.

Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim, currently the socio-cultural adviser to the government, added that DAP’s Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen’s should be able to speak Bahasa Malaysia since he is Malaysian.

“He lives in Malaysia, so he should most definitely be aware of the national language.

“If he is insistent on using English, then people like this must be ready to step down (resign) as a member of parliament,” he was quoted as saying to Malay daily Utusan Malaysia.

National news agency Bernama reported of a commotion in Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday when Chong, who was taking part in the debate on the 2016 Supply Bill at committee level for the Prime Minister’s Department, raised the issue of the rights of Sabah and Sarawak MPs to speak in English.

Chong, who earlier commenced his debate speech in Bahasa Malaysia and then switched to English, stated that the right was enshrined in the Malaysian Constitution.

However, Deputy Speaker Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee interrupted and told Chong that he had to seek the consent of the Speaker to speak in English.

Chong ignored Kiandee’s explanation and continued to speak in English and read a paragraph from Article 161 of the Malaysian Constitution on the rights of Sabah and Sarawak.

Bernama also reported Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said as saying that English or other languages, apart from the national language, could be used by MPs when participating in a debate or making a speech in Parliament so long as they had the permission of the Speaker. 

She added that this was in accordance to the National Language Act and the Standing Orders of the Dewan Rakyat.

A day after the uproar, Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem announced that the state has adopted English as an official language of the state administration.

Adenan told a state civil service gathering that official government correspondence can be in both languages, adding that it was a practical and logical step.