GEORGE TOWN: Berita Harian (BH) and Harian Metro (HM) have been recognised by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) for their contributions to promoting and strengthening the use of Bahasa Melayu.
Both publications received the Hadiah Citra Bahasa Sahabat DBP 2026 at the launch of the 2026 National Language Month at Padang Kota here.
BH group editor Zulkifli Jalil and HM group editor Husain Jahit received the awards.
The Hadiah Citra Bahasa Sahabat DBP recognises organisations from the public and private sectors, as well as non-governmental organisations, for their contributions and commitment to promoting the national language.
Recipients receive a certificate of appreciation and RM5,000 in collaboration funding to organise literary bazaar activities.
The ceremony also saw the presentation of the Hadiah Citra Bahasa 2026, which recognises high achievement in Bahasa Melayu proficiency assessments. Recipients received RM3,000.
The Anugerah Ikon Bahasa 2026 was presented to lyricist and writer Datuk Habsah Hassan, professional emcee Terence Joseph Dunn and Penang Mufti Associate Professor Datuk Dr Mohd Suki Othman for their contributions to upholding the national language.
Each recipient received RM2,000, a certificate of appreciation and books published by DBP.
The awards were presented by Education Ministry deputy director-general (Professional Development Sector) Datuk Amzan Abd Malek.
Husain said HM would continue to champion Bahasa Melayu at both national and international levels.
He said the recognition reflected the newspaper's continued commitment to promoting the national language through its media platforms and initiatives.
"We are proud to receive this award, as it shows that HM continues to be recognised," he said.
Husain said HM had recently organised a pantun competition in collaboration with DBP and DRB-HICOM to promote the Malay language and preserve its literary heritage.
He said pantun, a traditional Malay poetic form, remained an important part of Bahasa Melayu and a valuable medium for nurturing public appreciation of the language.
Meanwhile, Zulkifli said young people should use Bahasa Melayu wisely and preserve its integrity as a reflection of their identity.
He said the tendency to modify the language on social media to suit individual preferences should not come at the expense of its proper use.
"If we look at social media, much of our language has been modified to suit their tastes. However, we should preserve the national language because it reflects our identity," he said.
Zulkifli also highlighted the role of newspapers in helping young people improve their language proficiency, particularly in grammar and writing.
He encouraged students to read newspapers, including BH, the New Straits Times (NST) and other publications circulated in schools.
"Newspapers use language that is proper and somewhat academic. I hope students will return to reading newspapers, especially to learn from the grammar used," he said.
He said regular exposure to well-written news articles could help students better understand Bahasa Melayu and use it appropriately in everyday communication.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd