Languages are means of communication and if we know more languages, the more we can communicate. When we know many languages, we can communicate with so many peoples in this world. Many countries have national languages and their leaders believe by having one national language the peoples of the country will be united. This is not true because unity is not achieved when all peoples know only one language but unity is only achieved when the peoples have the same mindsets and beliefs. Only the national language is compulsory to be studied at school. In most cases, the language of the native peoples is the national language of the country. The natives will learn the national language at school and they ended knowing only one language. The other races will know two languages, because they study the national language at school and they learn their own languages at homes. The natives will only understand what the other races are talking only when they talk in national language but when they start talking in their own languages the natives are totally lost. As a result what the natives know is limited when compared to what other races know as the natives only know one languages while the other races know two languages. The basic law is always right, the more languages a person knows the more he or she can communicate and get acquainted with.

Languages are means of dispersing and acquiring knowledge and the more languages a person knows the more knowledge she or he can acquire and disperse knowledge. A person who knows two languages will definitely in more better position to know more peoples, acquire and dissipated more knowledge when compare to the one who knows only one language. Most Malays will only know the maximum two languages, that is Bahasa Malaysia and English but many Chinese and Indians know three languages that is Bahasa Malaysia, English and their own languages. Most Malays only knows Bahasa Malaysia while most Chinese and Indians knows two languages, that is Bahasa Malaysia and their own language. When the Chinese and the Indians speak with the Malays they will speak in Bahasa Malaysia but when they speak to their own peoples they will speak their own language and Malays will not be able to understand what they are talking about. When the Malays speak with the Chinese or the Indians they will speak Bahasa Malaysia and when they speak to the Malays they will also speak Bahasa Malaysia and both the Indians and the Chinese understand whatever the Malays speak to each others. Who is in better position? The Malays who only knows Bahasa Malaysia or the Chinese and Indians who knows two languages? Even the most stupid person will answer that the one who knows two languages are better than those who knows only one language. Malaysian Government wants to make Bahasa Malaysia as not only a national language but also language that will be used in all fields of knowledge. This intention is noble and those who uphold this idea think that they are patriotic. Malays learn and know only one language while the other races know three languages. We think we are patriotic by making all Malaysians to learn only Bahasa Malaysia at schools but we are making the Malays in disadvantage position when compared to other races. Naturally, the races who know more languages are more advanced than those who know only one language. Although many Malays learn English at school but they cannot speak very well in English. Many Malays do not speak English among themselves or others because they were afraid that the other Malays accused them not patriotic or proud person.Because of many Malays seldom speak in English as compared to other races in Malaysia, Malays are often not so fluent in English. When there is a job that requires fluent English, other races will often get the offer.

What does nationalism mean? We are nationalist when we uphold the nation interest at all time. What is the nation and people interest other than to make this country a better place to live and to enable the peoples to live in this country with peace and prosperity? We want all Malaysians, particularly the Malays to become knowledgeable and competitive in all fields with other races in the world. This is only possible when all races in this country particularly the Malays know many languages. When we make Bahasa Malaysia as a language uses in court and government administration, it does not mean we cannot learn other languages. All Malaysians must know Bahasa Malaysia and in order for a person to be call Malaysian he or she must know Bahasa Malaysia. However Malaysia is a multiracial country and everyone in Malaysia should knows everyone else languages, so that they can communicate and understand each other better. All Malaysians must have multilingual capabilities so that they know and understand each other, no matter in what language they speak. All Malaysian must know how to speak all four main languages in the country, which are Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese, Tamil and English. Beside those languages, Malaysian must be encouraged to learn other languages of the world such as Arabic, Spanish and French. We must establish multilingual communities so that we become more competitive in the world. In order for Malaysia to become an advanced nation, it has to be multilingual. As a Muslim country, Malaysia has the great responsibility to spread the Great Kalimah to the entire world and by having multilingual capabilities it will enable Malaysians to discharge these responsibilities more efficiently to the entire world.

All languages belong to Allah. Allah has thought all the languages to the people. It does not mean, when we learn Chinese and English we learn the languages of the infidels and only when we learn Arabic we are learning the languages of the Muslims. All languages are the same and values of the languages in the eyes of Allah differ according to its usage. When we use the languages to propagate the Great Kalimah, the language will become valuable in the eyes of Allah. In order to make Malay language to be valuable in the eyes of Allah and to become the language of the world, the Malay language must be used to propagate the Great Kalimah and knowledge to the world and Malays must become the world business player. Only by making Bahasa Malaysia as national language and make it compulsory to be studied by all Malaysians in school does not make Bahasa Malaysia, a language of the world. Many people in the world would like to learn Bahasa Malaysia when Malays who speak and writes in Malays, themselves become the world players in business and in propagating the Great Kalimah and knowledge to the people of the world. In order to be world player, Malaysians has to be multilingual. When Malaysians become multilingual, they will become more knowledgeable and competitive and when they become more knowledgeable and competitive many peoples of the world would like to learn Bahasa Malaysia. In the past, many Malay parents discourage their children to go to English school because they fear their children will become infidels’. However, the Chinese and Indians parents send their children to English schools and as a result their children get better job compared to the Malays. Being Muslim, Malays must learn many languages and used the knowledge in many languages to spread Islam and knowledge to all over the world. Malays must be able to speak and write very well in English as it is currently the language of the world. English is not an infidel language and Arabic is not an Islamic language. All languages belong to Allah and the more languages we know the more Malays are able to spread the words of Allah and knowledge to the world.

All Malaysian must know Bahasa Malaysia, English, Chinese and Tamils. All these four languages must be thought in primary schools and our children are able to speak in all these four languages. We must let our children to speak in any of these four languages and be fluent. In future, our children will be able to read books in all these languages, study and work at all countries that speak and read in these languages. All the knowledge obtained in all various countries in the world are finally perfected in Malaysia as Malaysia are the only country in the world that encourage her peoples to be multilingual. Malaysia should only have one standard type of schools where all the languages of her people are thought. Instead of having a separate Chinese and Tamil schools, we should have only one type of national school where all four main languages are thought in the school. In this way we save costs and we let all Malaysians to mingle and become friends from the early days of their childhood. Having one type of school goes a long way in making Malaysians to become like brothers and sister in one large family. The phrase known as “Malaysia ialah Satu Keluarga” or Malaysians are One Family.

Prof Dr Nasoha Saabin
March 2012
Integrative Holistic Wellness Centre