Academics back move to make SPM Bahasa Melayu, History compulsory subjects for all schools

KUCHING (Jan 22): The directive requiring all schools in the country to offer Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) Bahasa Melayu and History has received the backing of academics here.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the two subjects must be offered at all schools nationwide, including those under the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), international, and religious streams.

According to Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Bachelor of Education (Iban language) programme coordinator Prof Dr Amee Joan, Bahasa Melayu and History play a vital role in helping students understand Malaysia’s shared struggles and multicultural identity.

“Bahasa Melayu enables better communication with society, while History builds awareness of the country’s past and diversity,” she said.

However, she cautioned that the policy’s implementation must be carried out carefully, especially for international and Chinese independent schools.

“These schools will need clear guidelines, trained teachers, and appropriate teaching materials.

“If implemented fairly and flexibly, this policy can strengthen unity without neglecting the different needs of students from diverse education systems,” she said.

For Datuk Prof Dr Jayum Jawan, the directive is not entirely new but rather an extension of policies introduced in the mid-1990s, when higher education institutions were required to offer compulsory courses on the Malay language, Malaysian socio-cultural and political history, Islamic and Asian civilisations, as well as moral studies.

“These courses were part of the requirements for accreditation by the then National Accreditation Board (LAN), now known as the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA). Institutions were given flexibility in naming the courses, but the core content was similar,” he said.

“Those who study in this country should be given the opportunity to understand and appreciate Malaysia and its rich history.”

The Academy of Sciences Malaysia fellow stressed the curriculum must be standardised and improved to ensure that Malaysian history is not overly Malayan-centric.

“At present, the sociocultural, economic, and political history curriculum is heavily focused on Malayan history, while Sabah and Sarawak are not given sufficient emphasis. This needs to be corrected,” he opined.

Prof Dr Noria Tugang from Unimas’ Faculty of Applied and Creative Arts also expressed strong support for the directive, describing it as fundamental to preserving Malaysia’s cultural harmony and national identity.

“No matter what type of school, Bahasa Melayu and History should be compulsory.

“These subjects help nurture love for culture, unity in diversity and appreciation for Malaysia’s continued existence as a nation,” she said.

When launching the National Education Plan 2026-2035 on Tuesday, Anwar said the requirement applies uniformly across Malaysia’s education system.

He also said the policy aligns with His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim’s royal address at the opening of Parliament on Monday, which emphasised the importance of language in nation-building.