The "Speak/Teach Malay First" Debate in Malaysia (Part 1)

 

The controversy erupted around September 25, 2025, when Dr. Azizah Zain, an associate professor in the Department of Early Childhood Education at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), publicly argued that young children—particularly those from urban Malay families—should master Bahasa Melayu (BM) as their foundational language before being introduced to English or other tongues. She emphasized that BM is not just a communication tool but a carrier of national identity ("jati diri") and cultural values, warning that early dominance of English in urban settings could erode these elements and lead to weaker BM proficiency later on. Dr. Azizah called for schools to reaffirm BM as the primary medium of instruction, with English taught as a second language only after BM is solid, citing historical shifts like the 1990s policy making BM the main medium.

Her remarks, initially covered in Malay media like Harian Metro, quickly went viral on social media (including X/Twitter) and English outlets, igniting a polarized debate. Supporters, including some educators and nationalists, praised it as a timely push to strengthen BM amid globalization, arguing it fosters patriotism without rejecting English entirely. Critics, however, labeled her views outdated and overly prescriptive, pointing out that research shows children can handle multiple languages simultaneously without cognitive harm—and that delaying English might disadvantage kids in a global job market. Personal anecdotes flooded discussions: many shared how early English exposure didn't hinder their BM skills, while others mocked her as a "kangkung professor" (outdated academic) lacking evidence-based sources.

The backlash intensified politically. Sarawak Deputy Minister Datuk Dr. Annuar Rapaee sharply rebuked Dr. Azizah, calling her stance a disservice to education and accusing it of undermining efforts to boost English proficiency in rural areas. This fed into broader frustrations over Malaysia's language policy flip-flops, from the "Bahasa Jiwa Bangsa" era to recent Dual Language Programme tweaks.

By September 30 (yesterday), the issue reached the federal level. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim responded during a Cabinet meeting by directing the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) and Ministry of Education (MOE) to collaborate on prioritizing BM and History as core subjects across all schools—including private and international ones—as part of a review of the Matriculation Pre-University (MPU) curriculum. Anwar framed this as essential for building national identity, patriotism, and unity, extending MPU requirements to all universities and training institutes. This move was seen by some as a direct nod to Dr. Azizah's concerns, though it drew mixed reactions: cheers from BM advocates, but worries from non-Malay communities about potential overreach into vernacular or international curricula.

On X, the conversation trended under phrases like "Bahasa Melayu first" and "teach Malay first," with over 500 posts in the last 48 hours mixing heated exchanges, memes, and calls for balanced bilingualism. A viral YouTube explainer titled "Apparently, Learning English Too Early Destroys Your 'Jati Diri'" captured the emotional core, racking up views by framing it as identity vs. opportunity. Overall, it's highlighting Malaysia's perennial language tensions—BM as a unifier vs. English as an enabler—amid calls for evidence-based policy over knee-jerk nationalism.