Kota Kinabalu: Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has called on the younger generation to play a proactive role in preserving and strengthening indigenous languages, particularly in Sabah where ethnic and linguistic diversity is rich.
She said many young people in the state still lack fluency in their native tongues, and urged them to take up the responsibility of keeping these languages alive.
“Our main focus is to ensure the survival of various local languages in Sabah—such as Bajau, Kadazan, Dusun, Murut, Rungus, Iranun and others—by encouraging the younger generation to learn and master them,” she said.
Fadhlina was speaking at the 69th Anniversary Celebration of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), held at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC),here, on Saturday.
She said DBP’s long-standing contribution in preserving knowledge and promoting the Malay language had reached a mature stage, and its role must now expand with stronger commitment and relevance.
“With age comes boldness—69 years is a significant milestone for DBP. The introduction of the standard framework for Bahasa Melayu reflects the government’s dedication to elevate its status across all sectors, as the national language with intellectual and cultural value,” she said.
Fadhlina also highlighted the role of technology in advancing language mastery and ensuring the nation is not left behind in the digital age.
“Artificial intelligence, for example, is a crucial tool in our efforts to empower language,” she said, while also expressing admiration for Sabah’s many talented writers and literary figures.
Quoting the Prime Minister, she said: “The strength of a nation lies in knowledge, intellect and language—key elements in building a civilisation, embodied in the phrase ‘language is the soul of a nation’.
Also present at the event was the Head of State, Tun Datuk Seri Musa Aman.
The ceremony also saw the launch of a biography on a notable DBP figure and the unveiling of the National Language Research Index.
The event was further enlivened with exhibitions and booths featuring a wide range of DBP publications and educational materials.
