Language and literature important to the people’s identity

24 October 2024

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government places significant emphasis on language and literature within the state, recognising their crucial roles in shaping the character and the civilization of a nation. These elements help cultivate a populace with a distinct identity and culture, as stated by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor.

He emphasised that while the pursuit of mastering multiple languages is essential, the elevation of the national language must not be overlooked or diminished.

“I encourage the community to prioritise the national language across various aspects of daily life, including signage in public spaces, communications, and documentation within financial institutions, banking, advertising, supermarkets, development projects, commercial ventures, housing developments, educational institutions, and government sectors,” he remarked.

These comments were made during the Launching Ceremony of the National Language Month at the State Level for Sabah in 2024, held at the Amil Jaya Hall at the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Sabah Branch, today.

His speech was delivered by the State Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Datuk Dr. Mohd. Arifin Mohd Arif.

Hajiji noted that the DBP Sabah Branch has successfully highlighted several local vocabulary entries through its vocabulary project, which have been officially recorded in the Kamus Dewan (Dewan Dictionary).

Among these entries are the word “kerop,” derived from the Kadazan language, meaning false eyelashes, and “meridap,” from the Bajau language, which means to sleep or doze off briefly.

"We take pride in contributing to the enrichment of the national language's vocabulary. There remains a wealth of ethnic vocabulary that can be used, especially considering Sabah is home to 35 ethnic groups and 217 sub-ethnic groups that communicate in over 50 languages," he stated.

He hopes that further efforts will be made to promote the inclusion of vocabulary from other ethnic groups in the state as entries in the Kamus Dewan.

According to him, National Language Month is an initiative by the government aimed at fostering a love for the national language within the community through various planned programmes.

He asserted that empowering the national language also entails upholding the Constitution, which designates the Malay language as the country's national and official language.

Hajiji concluded by stating that this programme serves as a platform for educating the diverse community to appreciate and elevate the national language, which has long served as a language of knowledge, a medium of education, a means of unity, and a driver of national progress, as well as a cornerstone in the construction of a cohesive nation.