The Cabinet has given the Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka (DBP) the power to advise and fine anyone not using the national language correctly on signboards.
Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim said this was one of the measures being taken to strengthen the national language.
“This step was outlined in a special memorandum between the Education Ministry and my ministry which was approved by the Cabinet to make sure the national language is not sidelined in any way,” he said.
“DBP can now enforce the correct usage of the national language on the public and private sectors,” he told reporters at a press conference at his office yesterday.
Rais said for a start, DBP would advise anyone found using the language wrongly.
Anyone refusing to follow an order by the DBP director-general can be fined up to RM1,000.
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