Kids to Strengthen Malay Before English, Says Academic | KiddyNews

Children in Malaysia should first build a strong command of the Malay language at an early age before focusing heavily on learning English, says an academic from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI).

Associate Professor Azizah Zain, who lectures in early childhood education, warned that when English becomes the dominant language in a child’s daily life, it may weaken their connection to Malay; the national language that carries culture, identity and heritage.

“English is undeniably important, but when it becomes the dominant language in daily communication, we must ask ourselves whether this threatens the role of Malay as the national language,” she said.

Azizah says while mastering two languages is clearly beneficial, there needs to be a language hierarchy in early childhood development. She believes children will learn more effectively if Malay is first firmly established as both the mother tongue and national language before adding English. According to her, children who become more comfortable in English early may lose touch with the values and nuances embedded in Malay.

She emphasised that English still offers major benefits, including global communication, access to knowledge, and better job opportunities, but said the foundation in Malay should come first. She urged parents and schools alike to encourage children to think and speak in Malay at home, and to expose them to traditional stories and literature such as pantun and syair.

Azizah’s appeal comes amid ongoing efforts by the government to strengthen English language programmes in schools even as Malay remains the official national language.

Why This Matters for Kids & Families

• Having a strong base in Malay helps children connect with their culture, community and national identity.
• Learning English remains vital, especially for global jobs and connections, but if it comes too early, children might struggle with both languages.
• Parents can help by encouraging children to speak Malay at home, read Malay stories, and use both languages gradually.
• Schools and teachers play a key role: they can structure language learning so children first feel confident in Malay, then smoothly transition into English.
  
  

Thoughts

This raises an important question for parents, teachers, and policymakers alike in our increasingly globalised world, how do we strike the right balance between embracing English for opportunity and preserving Malay for identity? Could teaching English too early unintentionally dilute a child’s sense of cultural belonging, or can bilingualism truly coexist from the start? As Malaysia moves forward in shaping its education system, this debate reminds us that language is more than just a skill, it’s the heart of who we are. What are your thoughts on this?

Source:

Free Malaysia Today — “Kids need strong BM foundation before mastering other languages, says don”

Thoughtfully adapted by KiddyNews — keeping parents and educators informed with the latest ECCE developments from Malaysia and beyond.