National Language and Nationalism

 

Some Nationalism Fanatics always blindly support the idea of "citizen must be able to speak the national language at a very proficiency level". 

Let me share with you some of my thoughts on this matter. 

National language is a product of Nationalism, and Nationalism was a weapon to get rid of colonized powers. Now the colonized power has long gone. We are living in a globalization era now.

Not being able to speak the language of the majority does not mean someone is not qualified to become a citizen. Nationalism supporters always reject the idea of multi-languages and multi-culturals, such rejection is very unjust. It is unjust because they're asking the minorities to be proficient at the language of the majority. I don't think everyone will support any unjust action.

You don't use "Patriotism" to force the minorities to pick up the language of the majority. If the minorities are learning the language of the majority, certainly it is always because they want their lives to be more convenient when interacting with the majority, not because they are forced to show their "loyalty to the country". Ultimately, we're not living in a Fascist nation.

During "Zaman Kesultanan Melaka", the government did not make Bahasa "National language", and yet Bahasa still became the "Lingua Franca" in this region. Anyway, if you were living in Melaka that time, everyday you could hear more than 50 different languages spoken in the town.

The conclusion is, the more open a country is, the more the country's prospers. That's the secret of the "Zaman Kegemilangan Kesultanan Melaka". There's no reason for Nationalism supporters to go for the narrow approach. After all, these people also want to see a better Malaysia, right?