Akta Bahasa Kebangsaan 1967: Isu, Reaksi, dan Cabaran

This article expounds the development of the Malay language in Malaysia after 10 years of independence, specifically in the aspects ofadministration and education. Therefore, the discussion has been focused in relation to compliance of the National Language Act 1967 which includes issues, reactions and challenges during that period. This is due to the government efforts to pass the 1967 National Language Act consecutively to maintain the standard of the Malay language in accordance with Article 152 of the Federal Constitution. Furthermore, the 1967 National Language Act has been elaborated in Dewan Rakyat (Parliament) on 23rd February 1967 by Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Prime Minister of Malaysia and passed on 3rd March 1967. This act come into force on I September 1967, 10 years after Malaysia gained independence. However, the declaration of this act elicited various reactions among the Malays, non-Malays and a few organizations.