MORE FOREIGNERS PREFER TO LEARN MALAY LANGUAGE

KUALA LUMPUR, July 5 (Bernama) -- More and more foreigners, including those
in fully-developed countries, preferred to learn the Malay language, Minister in
the Prime Minister's Department Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

In fact, he said Malay language had become one of ten preferred languages to
be studied among the foreigners.

Taking the example of Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) in China,
which is in the midst of developing its Malay language studies programme, Koh
said it showed that the language was becoming more and more popular among the
international community.

He said this when opening the Language and Literature Festival 2011,
organised by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) here Monday night. The DBP) is the
government body responsible for coordinating the use of the Malay language in
Malaysia and Brunei

Almost 1,000 primary and secondary school students are taking part in the
two-day festival.

Koh also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
between DBP and United Publishing House (M) Sdn Bhd to produce a Dewan Bahasa
Malay-Chinese dictionary next year.

DBP director-general Termuzi Abdul Aziz signed the MoU on behalf of DBP
while United Publishing House was represented by its managing director Wong
Chee Kheong.