Speech by President Halimah Yacob at Launch of Bulan Bahasa 2019

Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Chairman of Malay Language Council, Singapore

Mdm Rahayu Mahzam, Chairman of Bulan Bahasa 2019 Committee

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good afternoon.

Salam sejahtera kepada semua,
Saya ucapkan membuka bicara,
Izinkan saya bersepatah dua,
Semoga majlis indah ceria.

Firstly, I would like to thank Sriwana, Sanggar Seni Muda and Permaisuara for the colourful welcome performances.

It gives me great pleasure to join you today at the Launch of Bulan Bahasa 2019, a much anticipated annual highlight and celebration for the Malay community, as we also commemorate Singapore’s Bicentennial this year.

This island, then known as Temasek, was already a bustling port 700 years ago, in the 13th century. The island’s strategic geographical location within the Nusantara (Malay Archipelago) made it both a crossroads and a centre, allowing it to thrive as an early emporium in the region and an important British crown colony.

The Malay language has been the lingua franca for a long time in Temasek and our surrounding region. Our language was already spoken by our forefathers as far back to the 7th century. It has evolved from bahasa Melayu Kuno (Old Malay), to bahasa Melayu Klasik (Classic Malay), and now, bahasa Melayu Moden (Modern Malay). It was a language of kinship, trade, political diplomacy, religion, and intellectual and literary development in the region.

Throughout history and the region’s developments, the Malay language remained dynamic and continued to be enriched by influences from both local languages, such as those from the Nusantara like Javanese and Bugis, and languages from afar, such as Tamil, Chinese, Persian, Arabic, and the European languages. A language that evolves and survives the continuum of time reflects its constant revitalisation, as it assimilates the different linguistic influences. This constant assimilation in the Malay language is also reflected in its written script, which has evolved from the Indic script, to the Arabic script, and now, into the Roman script.

A language cannot be diverse, if the people are not diverse and adaptable. Through the years, the Malay language has been kept alive and relevant because its users have remained innovative, as it expanded and embraced different vocabulary and expressions from various languages, contexts and cultures.

Today, we inherit a dynamic, resilient, graceful and beautiful language that thrives in Singapore’s modern and multicultural fabric as our national language. Speaking and using the language enables us to understand our rich past, and anchor our cultural identity and sense of belonging deep to our community. We continue to earn social capital as we use the Malay language to form meaningful relationships and widen our networks in different communities in the region. And as we continue to use Malay, we, too, are allowing the power of the language to shape our realities and our lives. I work closely with our community, and I value the instant connections and bonds we form when we speak the same language.

Today, we celebrate 31 years since Bulan Bahasa was first organised in 1988. I would like to commend Majlis Bahasa Melayu Singapura, or MBMS, headed by Assoc. Prof Faishal Ibrahim, and the Bulan Bahasa Committee, led by Mdm Rahayu Mahzam, for the tremendous effort put together to promote the Malay language to our younger, bilingual generation, who will undoubtedly benefit from the work you do.

Indeed, Bulan Bahasa remains a microcosm of the wider language landscape in Singapore. MBMS helms many other signature initiatives to support language and literary developments, including the Anugerah Guru Arif Budiman and Anugerah Persuratan. I would like to commend the MBMS members for their dedication and their passionate efforts in driving Malay language and literary initiatives in Singapore, and all the Duta Bahasa and Rakan Bahasa who champion our Malay language.

MBMS also plays an active role in the regional development of language and literature through its work with the Malay Language Councils of Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia (Majlis Bahasa Brunei, Indonesia dan Malaysia or MABBIM) and the Literature Councils of Southeast Asia (Majlis Sastera Asia Tenggara or MASTERA).

MBMS has taken part in MABBIM Conferences since 1985, and shared views on the development of Malay language in Singapore and the region. Mr Farizan M Amin and Mr Daud Yusof represented at this year’s MABBIM Conference. There, Mr Farizan presented on Singapore’s Malay language promotion efforts, including Bulan Bahasa and this year’s theme, ‘Cita. Citra. Cinta. Bahasa Kita.’. He emphasised that for the Malay language to continue to evolve and remain relevant in the region, it must continue to adapt and be spoken.

Singapore hosts MASTERA for the second time in this year, and this underscores Singapore’s role in the development of Malay literature in the region.

Our forefathers and other language pioneers have invested much to keep our Malay language and culture intact for us. The responsibility now rests on our shoulders to ensure that our language remains alive and relatable to the next generations, so that they may benefit as richly as we did, in our way with words.

The task of promoting Malay language is not only confined to Bulan Bahasa. The Malay language belongs to our community, and so we must continuously take ownership in preserving and encouraging its use. It is, and will always be, an integral aspect to our culture and identity as Malays in Singapore.

Let us continue the effort to preserve and promote the use of the Malay language together so as to ensure that future generations remain heirs to our rich heritage and culture.

Cincin perak gelang suasa,
Pakai baju kebaya jingga;
Ayuhlah semarak Bulan Bahasa,
Bahasa Melayu Bahasa Kita.

Thank you.