Building ASEAN Solidarity Through The Malay Language

Noor Farhana Ahmad Norain KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 (Bernama) -- With the formation of the ASEAN Community by the end of the year, there is one aspect that can be used to develop solidarity among the various communities in the region. With a total population of more than 600 million, significant differences in terms of culture, language, religion, the economy and politics posed a major challenge in efforts to form a regional identity. However, there is one aspect that is perceived to be able to unite the ASEAN community, that is, through the use of the Malay language. Socio-Cultural advisor to the Malaysian government Dr Rais Yatim said the ASEAN community should be seen as having its unique sense of belonging which would highlight the identity of the regional grouping among the international community. "I see that the Malay language is spoken by 300 million people in ASEAN. Thus, more than half of the ASEAN population is represented by those speaking the Malay language or the Indonesian language. It would be very good if the language is made as the regional language and this will unite us," he said recently. Rais pointed out that ASEAN should come up with its own language, besides attempting to highlight the arts and music to reflect the identity of the regional grouping. Although several neighbouring countries might not agree with the proposal to turn the Malay language as a regional language, he was convinced that the proposal could be implemented. "Vietnam, Laos and Thailand might not agree. That's alright, as long as the policy can be seen from the practical point of view and not merely in terms of theory. We have to look at the factor that is uniting us now, there is none. "In reality, the Malay language and the regional culture can contribute towards a sense of belonging in ASEAN. The socio-cultural aspect can also project the regional culture in ASEAN. I feel this matter should be included in discussions," he added. Malaysia has been chosen as the ASEAN chairman for the 2015 term and the formation of the Asean Community is scheduled to materialise at the end of the year, which incorporates three blueprints namely the ASEAN Economic Community, the Security-Political Community and the Socio-Cultural Community. In 2007, it was agreed that the formation of the ASEAN Community be speeded up by five years to 2015. Among others, it involved a deeper and wider regional integration to enable ASEAN to compete more effectively. Integration would also lead to a higher standard of living and rapid social development for the people. Meanwhile, Major Research Fellow of the Institute of the Malay World and Civilisation, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (National University of Malaysia)Prof Dr Teo Kok Seong felt that the use of the language as a tool for unity was a positive move. He said that besides the large number of people using the language, the Malay language was also used in four of the 10 countries in the ASEAN region namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore. "Based on this, we can try to convince the other ASEAN countries that the Malay language can be taken as the ASEAN language for the purpose of solidarity," he said. In fact, he said, a similar move had been initiated by Emperor Shih Huang Ti who introduced a uniform writing to unite the various communities in China who spoke in the various Chinese dialects. "The English language is also used in most parts of the world for solidarity...so, the Malay language can certainly be used as an Asean regional language. (Unity through language) something that has been proven in the past and also at present," he said. However, he hoped the efforts to unite the people through the Malay language could be carried out fully among the Malaysians first, before giving full emphasis to the efforts outside the country. According to the ASEAN official website, the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community aims to contribute to realising an ASEAN Community that is people-oriented and socially responsible with a view to achieving enduring solidarity and unity among the peoples and Member States of ASEAN. It seeks to forge a common identity and build a caring and sharing society which is inclusive and where the well-being, livelihood, and welfare of the peoples are enhanced. Set up on Aug 8, 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, ASEAN was later joined by Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. --BERNAMA