KUALA LUMPUR: The directive that official letters sent to government departments must be written in Malay does not include international companies, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.

Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said the directive to correspond in the national language only applies to government departments and local companies.

"I have directed all government departments and local companies not to write (official letters pertaining to government affairs) in English or any other language. It should be written in Malay.

"However, the international companies are excluded," he said during the Finance Ministry winding-up session in Dewan Rakyat today.

Anwar said there were some misunderstanding on the matter.

"International companies can send official letters to the government in other than Malay language."

On Oct 25, Anwar instructed government agencies to return correspondence written in any language other than Malay, in a move to uphold the national language.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/11/974298/malay-only-policy-official-letters-govt-not-international-companies-says