Rozan Yunos BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN The Golden Legacy on The Brunei Times Monday, September 19, 2011

Guardian of the Malay Language IT is not known when the Malay Language was first used in Brunei. In 644 AD, the definition Malay appeared in Chinese writings as "Mo-Le-Yeu" when Chinese history recorded that the Malays had sent a tribute to the Emperor of China. Historians agree that "old Malay" or ancient Malay was written extensively with Sanskrit script before the mid-15th century when Malay became more widespread and was used to spread Islam. In Brunei, the Malay language was used extensively during the early days of the Sultanate. But it was not until 1906 when Brunei Darussalam started to use Malay officially in the education system. It was 50 years later that the usage of the language got a boost. The status of the Malay Language was enhanced with the enactment of the Brunei Darussalam Constitution on 29 September 1959. Section 82(1) of the Constitution officially stated that the Malay Language shall become Brunei Darussalam's official language. In April 1960, one proposal was tabled in the State Legislative Council for an independent agency to be formed to ensure the usage of the Malay Language as the official language of the country. In 1961, the government formed the Language Board (Lembaga Bahasa) which was administratively placed under the Education Department. The board's name was later changed to the Language and Literary Section. Haji Mohd Jamil (now Pehin Dato Dr Haji Mohd Jamil) became the Language Board's first Director. !The Board's Language Week project started in 1961 ensured the usage of the Malay language. Throughout the Language Week, a number of programs were run such as lectures, books exhibition, posters, oratory competition, debate competition, poetry recital competition, writing competition as well as singing competition, all in the Malay language. A procession was held in the capital city, Bandar Brunei, made up of school children and government departments, each team carrying banners displaying slogans such as "Bahasa Jiwa Bangsa" and "Hidup Bahasa Hiduplah Bangsa". A special song was composed by Awang Besar Sagap with lyrics written by Yura Halim, both of whom were responsible for the Brunei national anthem. From 1962 onwards, the government issued several circulars. The circulars issued by the State Secretariat (Pejabat Setiausaha Kerajaan) ensured the usage of the Malay Language officially throughout the government. The first circular SUK 30/1962 outlined the main task of the Board which was to carry out the content of Section 82(1) of the Brunei Darussalam Constitution.

In 1962, another campaign, the National Language Month or Bulan Bahasa Kebangsaan was launched similar to the Language Week but with all the districts involved. Similar activities were held throughout the other districts. The National Language Declaration which was declared by everyone in the country on July 23, 1962, was the highlight of the event. The State Secretariat's circular of 36/1962 dated June 28, 1962, officially stated the use of the Malay language in the government. Further circulars of 8/1960, 52/1963, 38/1964, 26/1965 and 22/1981 all ensured that the Malay language shall be used throughout the government departments. Meetings were held with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce regarding the use of the Malay language on May 16, 1963, and on May 30, 1964. Banks were also engaged with a similar meeting in April 1965. The wide usage of the businesses' signboards of the Malay Language both in the roman and Jawi alphabets marked the success of the Malay language used by both the government and the private sector. On January 1, 1965, the Language and Literary Section was taken out of the Education Department to become Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka a full-fledged department in its own right. By June 1966, the Bureau published its first journal "Bahana"; in May 1967, its second journal "Beriga" and four months later, its first children's journal "Mekar". The number of staff increased throughout the years. In 1961, there were two and by 1965, 30 people, 1970 67 people, 1980 - 92 people, by 1985 exceeded 200 and by 1990s up to now, the staff number had exceeded 300. The foundation stone of the main $2.6 million Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka building at Jalan Elizabeth II was laid by His Majesty Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien on September 28, 1965. It was declared opened on September 29, 1968, with the main library opened to the public two months later. The first mobile library service was launched in August 1970 to Kampung Sengkurong and later on to Tutong District. However it was not until 1971 that books were lent to the public from the main library. By 1975, two more libraries were opened in Kuala Belait and Tutong, in 1976 in Seria and in 1978 in Bangar, Temburong. During the 8th National Development Plan, more libraries were opened in Muara, Pandan, Lambak Kanan and Sengkurong. The mobile library services continued throughout the years to serve many communities throughout the country. !On September 29, 1989, the then Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, laid the foundation stone for the Bureau's new headquarters in the Old Airport Government Complex. The $11-million building was used from 1992. The old building at Jalan Elizabeth II remained as the main national library. A new National Library is currently being envisaged to be built. Today, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka is responsible for language and literary development and propagation, cultural research and documentation and book publication besides to provide library services to all over the country.

Workshops such as Jawi writing promote the development of the Jawi system. Storytelling competitions such as Mari Bercerita helps to generate reading culture among the Bruneian youths in Malay. Apart from conducting competitions, the Bureau plays a crucial role as a publishing institution in Brunei of various forms of writing, from children's novels to poetry and cookery books. The bureau continues to offer its services by providing Jawi translations of posters or billboards free of charge; translating texts from English to Malay; and to offer guidance and advice regarding the national language. In its 50 year of existence, the Language and Literature Bureau played a crucial role in the development of the Malay nation and Brunei Darussalam. Indeed, during the Golden Jubilee celebrations on 17 September 2011, His Majesty The Sultan and Yang DiPertuan of Brunei Darussalam while urging that the sovereignty of the Malay Language must not be slackened, but upheld so as not to become a second-class language; was pleased to note that the Language and Literature Bureau has stood as an institution entrusted with building and developing the Malay Language in Brunei Darussalam over the past 50 years.