Malaysia to Levy Fines for Poor Speech
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 7:52 a.m. ET
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Malaysia will levy fines on those
incorrectly using the national language, and will set up a specialized
division to weed out offenders who mix Malay with English, news reports
said Thursday. Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Rais Yatim said fines
of up to 1,000 ringgit ($271) can be imposed on displays with any wrong
or
mutated form of Malay, the Star newspaper reported. The move was to
ensure
''the national language was not sidelined in any way,'' Rais said,
according to The Star. Fines will be imposed after a first warning, the
national news agency Bernama quoted Rais as saying.
