Prioritise standard Malay language on radio broadcast

KUCHING: Radio announcers should revert to using standard Malay language, rather than the ‘common Malaysian vernacular’ heard on air today.

Former Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) Sarawak Radio Announcer Julaihi Udin described ‘common Malaysian vernacular’ as a mixed use of local dialects with the Malay language.

He laments the significant shift in language use, pointing out that during his olden time, broadcasters adhered to proper Malay language rules, which ensured clarity and accuracy in communication.

“Back then, we used standard Malaysian, ensuring we followed grammatical rules strictly. Nowadays, most announcers mix local dialects with informal speech, which dilutes the language’s purity,” he told Sarawak Tribune.

Julaihi also added that radio announcers play a crucial role in upholding the integrity of the national language.

He noted the increasing number of Malay students failing to secure credits in Malay-language exams and attributed the trend to the influence of casual speech patterns on the radio.

He contrasted this with Chinese students who often excel in Malay due to their lack of exposure to such influences, as they primarily listen to Chinese-language stations.

“Announcers should set an example by using correct language. Make what is correct habitual, and correct what has become habitual,” he added.

He also said adopting standard Malay would not disrupt communication, but instead preserve the language’s formality and clarity.

When comparing the differences between past and present announcers, Julaihi opined that as time and technology changes, the role of broadcasters as language role models should remain constant.

“In our time, even with manual processes and heavy recording equipment, we prioritised proper language use,” he said.