UKM Proposes Global Standard Malay Language Test On Par With IELTS, TOEFL

BANGI, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), through its Institute of the Malay World and Civilisation (ATMA), plans to introduce an internationally recognised Malay language certification examination to establish a standard for assessing proficiency at both national and global levels. 

UKM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Sufian Jusoh said the initiative aimed to provide a standardised assessment system to measure Malay language proficiency, similar to the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for English. 

“In the Malay language, there is no specific (compulsory) examination to establish a standard of competence in the language. So, we want to position UKM as an examination centre for the Malay language at both international and national levels.  

“For example, those applying for citizenship are required to take a Malay language course conducted by ATMA UKM,” he said. 

“We want to establish UKM as a Malay language examination centre that is open not only to university students and staff but also to the international community seeking formal recognition of their proficiency in the language,” he told reporters after the signing of a letter of intent (LOI) between UKM-ATMA and Yayasan Aman here today. 

Sufian said the examination was also proposed as a requirement for students seeking admission to UKM and wishing to pursue studies in Malay, including those intending to write their theses in the language.

He said students from Southeast Asian countries where Malay is spoken could also sit for the examination as an alternative to English language tests to meet certain academic requirements at UKM. 

“At the international level, Malay language users could voluntarily sit for the examination that we will introduce so that they can use the language as a lingua franca at certain levels,” said Sufian, who also expressed his intention to work with the government to implement the proposal. 

-- BERNAMA