Bahasa Melayu dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan: Kedudukan dan Peranannya dalam Konteks Komunikasi Perpaduan

Article 4(1) clarifies that the Federal Constitution is the primary law of the federation and that whatever laws approved after the Independence, which are contradictory to this constitution are nullified. Withholding this principle, the status of Bahasa Melayu as the national language is needed to be upheld legitimately with its functions in building national unity among Malaysians. Previous leaders have realized the need for establishing a national language to be a lingua franca as well as formal national language for national unity among people of all races. Thus, from this constitution, article 152 was developed that insists Bahasa Melayu as the national language. Furthermore, it appears to be quite sensitive among ethnics in a pluralistic community to compromise issues regarding culture and religion. Therefore, the use of Bahasa Melayu as the formal language is the main compromising factor that could make unity a reality. This article reexamines and reminisces the status of Bahasa Melayu in the constitution with reference to the provisions allocated within the constitution and its relevance in nurturing and developing national unity.