SHOULD WE ALLOW THE SRI LANKAN MALAY LANGUAGE TO BE LOST? By Raju(din) Sally

 SHOULD WE ALLOW THE SRI LANKAN MALAY LANGUAGE TO BE LOST?
By Raju(din) Sally
United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has declared the Sri Lankan Malay language to be an endangered language. Should we allow this to happen? It is a fact that in Cape Town, South Africa there is a fair population of Malays, but none of them speak Malay now. It is feared that the same fate may befall the Sri Lankan Malays very soon if we do not act fast and that too in a strict manner!

Let me put this context in Malay thus:

“Marilah kita omong Bahasa Melayu” - (Come let’s talk our Malay language)

“Kalau tidak omong Bahasa” - (If we don’t talk the language)

“Nanti lupa Bahasa” - (We will forget the language)

“Kalau lupa Bahasa” - (If we forget the language)

“Hilanglah Bangsa” - (We will lose our Malay race)

Language is the soul of the race. A community is identified by the language its people speak.
The Sri Lankan Malays are a minority group which is considered to be drifting away from their mother tongue and even in their homes Malay language takes second place - they speak Sinhala, Tamil or English in that order. There is even a marked absence in the use of the Malay language among some Malay organizations (there are about 24 of them active in Sri Lanka). It is a pity even the elders do not endeavour to speak in Malay, perhaps in keeping with the trend of the present-day children who are comfortable in other languages!

If we don’t take serious view of this appalling situation, the elder Malays in Sri Lanka may regret as our fate will be sealed. What is expected of us as parents in Sri Lanka is not to know and teach the Standard Malay to our children at home at an early age, but to make every effort to speak at least the well known Sri Lankan (colloquial) Malay. It must be mentioned here at the same time we should keep our identity by wearing our typical Malay dress at functions arranged by Malay associations, for example the males should attire a batik shirt with a headgear ‘Sonko’ and the females a ‘Baju kurung’ so that while travelling for such functions the other communities will know that we are a different species!

In this direction, I must stress that COSLAM (Conference of Sri Lankan Malays) uses a ‘home’ Office at No.100, 2nd Maligakanda Lane, Maradana with a telephone bearing No. 0112727760to administer its activities for the welfare of the Malays in Sri Lanka. Any one is welcome to joinCOSLAM which is dedicating itself in conducting Hari Bahasa Melayu (Malay Language Day) contests among Muslim children under four (4) age groups, viz 12, 15, 17 and 21, besides an Open event 21 and above, for the ninth year in succession.

A carefully arranged syllabus is prepared and distributed by COSLAM to each category of children and those above 21 years participating in the contests held each year in Kirinda, Hambantota and Bolane (in the district of Hambantota), Kandy, Puttalam, Gampaha and Colombo. Very attractive cash prizes are on offer not only to the winners but also to the 1st runners-up and 2nd runners-up to all categories together with Certificates. Winners will also receive Challenge shields. Wouldn’t we therefore recognize the generosity of COSLAM for its jihad to keep our language alive and in keeping with the maxim “Gratitude is a noble virtue and only noble hearts possess them”?

COSLAM while encouraging the use of proper Malay words, for the purpose of inviting more participants in these contests, allows the use of common borrowed words from Sinhala and Tamil most Malay homes in Sri Lanka are akin to, for example: correct Malay word for cemetery is either “per kuburan” or “kuburan” while “maiyet pittani(T)” is permitted. Another example: “anting butang” is the correct Malay word for ear stud, while “krabu (S)” is allowed.

Saudaras and Saudaris! - so don’t have any qualms - these contests are designed for you to make you learn and speak the Malay language on a daily basis, okay? Be proud to be a Malay by not allowing to lose the language and thereby eventually lose our race too. May Allah grant you this lofty ideal of Malayness, insha Allah!

A prize-giving is held in Colombo at the conclusion of the contests to coincide with an epoc-making event – that of honouring the memory of a National Hero Dr T.B.Jayah who made a signal contribution to Sri Lanka as an educationist and contributed to the independence struggle of Sri Lanka in no small measure, as a statesman and diplomat. It may also be pertinent for me to remind you that by having “Iman” in following our religion of Islam, we will no doubt be blessed by Allah in all our endeavours, insha Allah - Ameen!