The language used by most of the people in both countries came from the same mother tongue that is the Malayan language. Since the Indonesian people is the user of the mother tongue with high population, I agree with the Malaysian Minister of Culture and Communication Information, Dr. Dato’ Seri Utama Rais Yatim that mentions the language as Indonesian Malay. Now, it is estimated that over 500 million citizens in the ASEAN region (covering Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore) are using it.
Indonesia, since 28 October 1928, through the youth Pledge, has made a strong affirmation that Indonesian nation has one language: Bahasa Indonesia. Constitutionally, the Indonesian language was then stated as the national language, to then be named the language of unison. And the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) asserts himself to using the Indonesian language as the official language –within his position as the Head of the Country and the Head of Government- in international forums.
Since Indonesia – Malaysia are nuclear countries of similar origins: Champa, with similar ethnical grounds: Aceh, Malay (Sumatra and Riau), Minang, Banjar, Kutai, Bugis, and Java) plus China, India, Arab, and Europe, it is then quite understandable when the idea to set Indonesian Malay language as the language of ASEAN.
In various dialogues with several colleagues in Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand (Southern), and the Philippines; the similar idea was developed. It is the collective major idea of countries in South-East Asia to relive the Indonesian Malay language as an International language. Remembering back to the reality of the Nation’s civilization historical reality, when the Malayan language became the socializing communicating language, be it in the context of social and even political communication, and even in conducting economical transaction.
The Language of Nuclear Countries Referring to the view of President SBY, the former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammas, the Malaysian PKK Minister Dr. Rais Yatim, we see that making Indonesian Malay language as the ASEAN language is a certainty. Indonesia – Malaysia as two nuclear (red: bloodrelated) countries, through various forums frequently held by the Malaysian Board of Language – Literature, and the Nation’s literature masters (through Mastera – Majelis Nusantara Indonesia – Indonesian Literature Master Council), play significant roles as the pioneers.
It is true what Datuk Johan Ja’afar –the former Head of Malaysian Board of Language and Literature (now Chief Executive Officer of Prima Media Bhd)- said, that starting off from language, the intimacy of the two countries: Indonesia – Malaysia, can continuously be strengthened. The Johor native with Riau Malay mother tongue has spent more than three decades along with his colleagues from Indonesia, thriving to strengthen the harmony of Indonesia – Malaysia relations.
Through the etymology line that evolves through customs and tradition, we are certain that the understanding in re-managing the relation of the nuclear countries will continue to develop. Using the method, including the dimension of religious values, we wish that the harmony of the two countries Indonesia – Malaysia, will not easily be shaken by the infiltration of the third party that triggers frictions and conflicts.
Language shows nation, nation fuels culture, language is the beautiful energy of civilization. It continues to evolve. Even on the lips of young politicians, vocabularies grow. Morover in Malaysia, the young Malaysian politicians those are put together under the UMNO Party, keep absorbing new terms used by Indonesian politicians. It got to the point where Johan Ja’afar wrote” “Sometimes hearing the UMNO leaders speak, makes us uncertain of who has the more right to sit at the BDP (red: Board of Language and Literature) – Footnote, 2010.
So? Strengthen the language as Indonesian Malay, the bond of two countries, again as the nuclear countries.
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