“But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.”

- George Orwell, 1984

COMMENT | To understand how intellectually and morally bankrupt this regime is, you do not have to look at the ongoing corruption cases or corruption allegations plaguing the body politic.

We do not have to look at the often-racist comments and policies from political operatives.

We only have to understand the words of the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) board of governors chairperson Prof Awang Sariyan when it comes to the use of our national language Bahasa Malaysia.

The most pernicious quote is this - “This is not about grammar or spelling errors, but disrespect for the national language”.

“Disrespect” in ketuanan (supremacist) ideology is shorthand for...