A Cabinet committee on empowering Bahasa Malaysia usage chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will be set up in two or three weeks.

Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid said his ministry would act as the secretariat for the committee which, among others, would discuss the use of the language in the service and delivery system of all ministries and government departments.

"This is to enable the use of the Malay language in all matters. We will bring it (the setting up of the committee) to the Cabinet for approval.”

He said this to reporters after launching the Intellectual Discourse Programme with lecturers of the Darulaman and Sultan Abdul Halim campuses of the Institute of Teacher Education in Jitra, Kedah today.

Mahdzir said the Cabinet committee would also discuss the existing law regarding Bahasa Malaysia, and on giving power to Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka to monitor the use of Bahasa Malaysia in writings.

"Now DBP becomes the reference centre and it will advise the relevant parties on using the language correctly,” he said.

- Bernama