Izah Azahari
The International Malay Language, Literature and Culture Congress Series (KABSBM) in conjunction with the Language Month was launched virtually yesterday by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin.
Organised by the Language and Literature Bureau (DBP), some 600 individuals participated in the online event comprising Legislative Council members, permanent secretaries and deputy permanent secretaries at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS), international speakers, former DBP directors, Southeast Asian Writers Award recipients, DBP strategic partners, senior government officers, Brunei Youth Council, Brunei Darussalam Association of Writers (Asterawani) and Putra Seni Group (KPS).
The event began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa, followed by a speech from DBP Acting Director Suip bin Haji Abdul Wahab and the minister prior to the launch.
After the KABSBM viewing, a keynote paper was presented by Professor Dr Haji Awang Asbol bin Haji Mail from Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) titled Memartabatkan Bahasa Melayu Sebagai Bahasa Kebangsaan (1930-2008): Kajian Perbandingan Brunei dan Malaysia, which discussed the challenges Brunei and Malaysia faced in the efforts to dignify the Malay language as an official and national language with the expanding use of the English language during the research period.
The KABSBM is an initiative of DBP in elevating the Language Month celebration and as a platform to spread knowledge to enable the development of Malay language in the Sultanate.
Papers presented by scholars through KABSBM will also work as sources of reference.
KABSBM is implemented in series from March 16 to June 22 with the presentation of 23 papers done twice a week – every Monday and Wednesday.
KABSBM aims to bring together international experts in Malay language, literature and culture to share knowledge and ideas.
