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The local authorities in the state of Sarawak were encouraged to monitor and ensure that sign boards installed in public places are using the national language.

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It is a compulsory to use boldly worded text in Bahasa Melayu followed by other languages.

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The national language shall be used for all advertisements and the words shall be 30% larger than the other language in measurement, prominently displayed and grammatically correct.

If the person fails to comply with the above policy and implementation shall be guilty of an offence and will be fine not exceeding 2000 ringgit or will be imprisoned not exceeding one year or both.

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The official policy and emplimentation with regard to signage or advertisements

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The official policy and emplimentation with regard to signage or advertisements

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Language policy decisions in Malaysia has been top-down by the people with power. Kaplan and Baldauf (1997, p. 196)

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Diverse and heterogeneous population

Bumiputera (45.9%), Chinese (43.2%), Indians (10.3%),  others (0.6%)

Malay language as the official language

English is widely used and understandable as a second language

Mandarin and Tamil as a daily use language

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After gaining independence, Malay language has been selected to be viewed as a symbol of national unity and its role  was granted as the lingua franca. Asmah (1997, p. 15)

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Before the Independence Day, the English language was used as the official language while the Malay, Mandarin and Tamil were termed as vernaculars.

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With the background of the language policy it can help to explain the significant languages in terms of the 3 elements which are the socio-linguistic, socio-economics and sociopolitical landscape of Malaysia.

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Malaysia is a multiethnic, multilingual and multiracial country with a population of 28.3 million with a total of 140 languages.

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Sociolinguistic profile        of Malaysia

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Sociolinguistic profile        of Malaysia