Report: Malaysia changes official name for national language to promote multiracial unity

KUALA LUMPUR (AP) - Malaysia's government has changed the national language's name back to "Bahasa Malaysia," or the "Malaysian Language," to promote a sense of belonging among multiracial communities, the national news agency reported Monday.

"Bahasa Malaysia" had been the name for the national language since the country achieved independence from Britain in 1957, but the government renamed it "Bahasa Melayu," or the "Malay Language" in 1986 to better reflect the cultural heritage of ethnic Malay Muslims, who make up nearly 60 percent of Malaysia's 26 million people.

The Cabinet recently approved the switch back to "Bahasa Malaysia," ordering government agencies, schools and media to use the term, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak was quoted as saying by the national news agency, Bernama.

"We want to make it a language for all Malaysians, regardless or race and ethnicity," Najib said. "We consider Bahasa Malaysia to be a language that belongs to all of us. That's the rationale."

Najib's aides could not immediately be contacted to confirm his remarks.

Malaysia has substantial ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities, most of whom are Buddhists, Christians or Hindus.

The country has long considered itself a model of racial tolerance, but minority groups have said relations have been strained in recent years due to disputes involving minorities' religious and economic rights.