Many
of the people in Malaysia have expressed their dissatisfaction over the
spelling of places in Malay as the spelling does not adhere to the Sistem Ejaan Baharu which was introduced
in the Malay Language to replace the older spelling system known as Ejaan Lama. The guidelines to spelling in
Malay is explained clearly in the booklet called Pedoman Umum Ejaan Bahasa Malaysia, published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) in 1975.
As
a linguist, let me explain that the existing names of places in Malay need not
adhere to the spelling rule as stated in the Sistem Ejaan Baharu, prescribed by DBP, the guardian of the Malay
Language and national language of Malaysia. According to DBP, the rule is only
applicable to names of places after the year 1972. This means names of places
will be retained in the original spelling as before. For example, the name of
the place Air Itam in Penang and Air Hitam in Johor will be spelt as it was. Likewise, names like Kota Bharu, Johor Bahru and
Kuala Kubu Baharu will be spelt accordingly. Places like Tronoh, Bachok, Batu
Anam, and Kuching, too will also retain the original spelling, and not spelt as
Teronoh, Bacuk, Batu Enam and Kucing. So,
it warrants no change to the spelling of old names of places.
DBP
further explains that the geographic nomenclature of names of places that
existed before 1972 will be retained by its original spelling. Naming a new place
name now, that is, after 1972 needs to follow the coordinated Malay spelling.
So, names of new places will be spelt according the rules of the language after
the year 1972. We have new places like Iskandar Puteri in Johor, Setia Alam in
Selangor, Bandar Indera Mahkota in Pahang, Seri Iskandar in Perak, and Hang
Tuah Jaya in Melaka which are spelt according to the stipulated rule now.
I
also wish to clarify that the determination of place names is not decided by
DBP, but rather by the local authority of a state. The name will be decided
after some considerations by the local authority. As previously mentioned,
place names before 1972 retained the original spelling and place names after
1972 will be spelled with the official
spelling structure of the Malay language.
I
hope this simple explanation clears the erroneous view of the people in the
country about spelling of Malay names of places.
