LOVE OF MALAY LANGUAGE SHOULD BE REINFORCED

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 (Bernama) -- The love for Bahasa Malaysia (Malay Language) as the national language and a foundation of the national character should be reinforced in the face of challenges in the globalisation era, said Information Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

He called on the people to make the national language a landmark and symbol
of their determination to face a great future.

"We want to build a country and the Malaysian race according to our own
mould and become a Malaysian make-up," he said when opening the Malaysian
Citrawangsa Awards 2008 here Friday night.

He said the national agenda had spelled out the national language as a tool
of enhancing unity.

Ahmad Shabery called on government agencies, the private sector,
non-government organisations and individuals to work hand-in-hand to make the
national language agenda a success.

"Bahasa Malaysia (Malay Language) is evolving through the process of
enhancement like the American English which has gone through the evolution
process for hundreds of years," he said.

Ahmad Shabery congratulated Malay for The Institute of Language and
Literature (Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka - DBP) for developing Bahasa Malaysia and
expanding its usage.

He later presented six main prizes of the Citrawangsa Malaysia Awards
organised by the DBP to honour users of the national language.

The Citra annual report for public sector went to the Malaysian
Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) while Public Bank Berhad
won the public sector category.

Nestle Products (M) Sdn Bhd was adjudged winner of the Citra Advertising
Award for the billboard advertising category, Fraser & Neave Sdn Bhd (television
advertising), Telekom Malaysia Berhad (radio advertising) and Maxis
Communications Bhd (newspaper advertising).