Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has proposed elevating the Malay language as ASEAN’s second official language through a comprehensive regional approach. He noted that the push to make Malay an ASEAN lingua franca is not new, having been initially suggested by Datuk Seri Najib Razak in 2017 and reinforced through his agreement with former Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
Ismail Sabri’s vision is significant, as Malay historically served as the lingua franca for trade and administration across the Nusantara. Beyond Malaysia, neighbouring countries such as Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, southern Thailand, southern Philippines, and parts of Cambodia also use Malay as a means of communication.
Malay has long connected diverse communities, including Chinese and Indian traders, in commerce and governance. Ismail Sabri’s advocacy goes beyond words—he once delivered a full speech in Malay at the United Nations in New York, choosing his native language over English, French, or Arabic. His address drew both praise and skepticism, marking a historic moment that proves Malay has never been small—the only limitation is our own confidence in it.
His efforts should serve as a call to action rather than mere nostalgia, showing that Malay can stand proudly alongside other global languages if given its due place. If it can resonate in New York at the UN, there is no reason it cannot gain prominence within ASEAN. It is time to stop treating the language merely as heritage and start wielding it as a symbol of national dignity. Historically, even Dutch and British colonisers had to learn Malay to communicate with local populations.
