Speaking BM Is Important, but It Isn’t What Makes Us Truly Malaysian

By Danial Martinus  •  06 Feb 2025 in Last Word

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A recent report detailing the results of a local poll has garnered a lot of debate about what it means be Malaysian. According to the poll, eight in 10 Malaysians believe speaking Bahasa Melayu (BM) is a “must” to truly belong in Malaysia.

It’s worth noting that the sample size of this study was rather small, at just 1,005 randomly selected Malaysians who were polled over the phone. But the overall sentiment seems to point to an inherent need to speak BM as a Malaysian. Why is that?

Is BM a golden ticket to being Malaysian?

It has to be said—there’s definitely merit in arguing that BM is a sort of unifying force among Malaysians. After all, what better way to run things smoothly in a multiracial, multilingual society such as ours than to have everyone speak the same language?

Speaking BM is a super important marker of “belonging”. It’s our national and official language. This also makes it a crucial part of our identity. But it certainly isn’t the only thing that makes someone Malaysian.

If it were, we’d have to start handing out citizenship to anyone who can rattle off “Apa khabar?” with a decent accent.

Language connects people; it doesn’t divide

In the grand scheme of things, reducing “Malaysian-ness” to just the language itself is a huge disservice to the rich, interwoven tapestry that makes us who we are.

We don’t have to look very far to see the point of this argument. Take a look at our neighbours, for example.

Bahasa Indonesia and Bruneian Malay are so similar to BM that we can practically understand each other without Google Translate. Does that mean Indonesians and Bruneians are honourary Malaysians? Of course not. They have their own identities, cultures, and quirks that make them uniquely them. Just like how we have ours.

After all, language is a bridge, not a border.

It gets even more interesting when you look beyond Southeast Asia. Just picture a white guy from rural Texas, sitting in his cowboy hat, casually chatting away in flawless BM. Impressive? Absolutely. Does that make him Malaysian? Kepala bapak kau.

For starters, he’s probably never experienced the existential dread of a bum gun with depressingly low water pressure or the joy of a perfectly charred satay by the roadside. Language is just one piece of a very intricate puzzle.

Plus, if we’re gonna get really technical, the BM that you and I speak in daily life isn’t even its “official” form. That would be Bahasa Baku, or standard Malay. I don’t see anyone in a local restaurant ordering food in the way dignitaries speak. But I digress. 🤷🏻

Being Malaysian is about the shared experiences that bind us all together—whether it’s surviving the chaos of bazaar Ramadan, debating which mamak makes the best roti canai, or collectively losing our minds when our favourite football club scores a goal.

It’s about the little things, like knowing exactly how to react when someone says “boleh tahan” or understanding the unspoken rules of queueing (or lack thereof) at a pasar malam.

Cultural nuances make us who we are

Malaysians have this inherent ability to code-switch effortlessly. It’s a byproduct of living in such a diverse society, where multiple languages are spoken, and varying customs are observed and respected (for the most part).

We blend languages and dialects in a way that’s both chaotic and poetic. One minute you’re speaking BM, the next you’re throwing in some Hokkien, Tamil, or even a random English phrase for good measure. Intentional or not, it’s perhaps the greatest way we show unity among the Rakyat. 

And then there’s the FOOD—collectively revered like a religion. You could be the most fluent BM speaker in the world, but if you don’t understand the sacred ritual of dipping your roti canai in curry, are you even Malaysian? Food is a language in itself, and it’s one that transcends race, religion, and background.

Similar to our love of food, Malaysians have a knack for shared celebrations. It’s like code-switching festivities in a sense. Our love of open houses takes the term to a literal sense, inviting everyone and their nenek to revel in the festivities. Whether it’s a Hari Raya open house, a Chinese New Year gathering, or a Deepavali open house, you’ll see people of all ethnicities present. What’s more Malaysian than that?

More importantly, Malaysians foster a society of compromise—we give and we take. We acknowledge our cultural differences without making it a problem for everyone else (most of the time, at least).

Of course, we’re not saying that BM isn’t important. Once again, it absolutely is. It’s the national language, which means it plays an important role in fostering unity and communication. But it’s not the only thing that defines us. Reducing Malaysian identity to just language overlooks the complexity and richness of our society.

Being Malaysian is embracing the messiness of our diversity

It’s about finding common ground despite our differences and celebrating the things that make us unique.

Whether you’re a BM pro or still struggling to master “boleh cakap perlahan sikit, tak?“, what matters most is that we’re all part of this beautiful, quirky, and sometimes infuriating thing we call Malaysia.

It’s time to stop gatekeeping what it means to be Malaysian. Instead of focusing on who speaks or doesn’t speak BM, let’s celebrate the cornucopia of ways we express our uniquely Malaysian identity. Be it food, culture, humour, and the way we can complain about the weather in multiple languages.

That’s what makes us truly Malaysian.

And hey, if that white guy from Texas ever masters BM and learns how to use a bum gun, maybe we’ll consider letting him join the club. Until then, he’s just another guy with a (very) cool party trick.

Read more features on JUICE Malaysia.