Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka

TypeRegulating and co-ordinating Malay language and literature in MalaysiaJurisdictionMalaysiaHeadquartersDewan Bahasa and Pustaka tower, Jalan Dewan Bahasa, Bukit Petaling, 50460 Kuala LumpurMotto"Bahasa Jiwa Bangsa"
"Language Is the Soul of the Nation" Employees900+Annual budgetRM 60.52 million (2024)Minister responsibleDeputy Minister responsibleAgency executivesWebsitewww.dbp.gov.myFootnotesDewan Bahasa dan Pustaka on Facebook

Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (English: Institute of Language and Literature, Jawi: ديوان بهاس دان ڤوستاک), abbreviated DBP, is the government body responsible for coordinating the use of the Malay language and Malay-language literature in Malaysia.

History

DBP Malaysia was established as Balai Pustaka in Johor Bahru on 22 June 1956,^[1] It was placed under the purview of the then Malayan Ministry of Education.

During the Kongres Bahasa dan Persuratan Melayu III (The Third Malay Literary and Language Congress) which was held between 16 and 21 September 1956 in both Singapore and Johor Bahru, Balai Pustaka was renamed Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. Royal Prof Ungku Abdul Aziz Ungku Abdul Hamid was instrumental in setting up the institution.

In 1957, DBP moved from Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur. Through Ordinan Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka 1959, DBP was granted a charter with its own Board of Governors. With the charter, DBP has the power to form policies regarding the Malay language, responsible to spread the language and is able to go into book publishing business.

On 31 January 1962, DBP moved to its own building at Jalan Lapangan Terbang Lama (now Jalan Dewan Bahasa). The building's architect was Lee Yoon Thim and the prominent mural was by Ismail Mustam. Three other offices were established in Bukit Mertajam (1999), Kota Bharu (1999) and Johor Bahru (2003). The institution celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2006.

Dictionary and other publications

DBP publishes the Kamus Dewan, for many years the prestigious dictionary of the Malaysian national language. The dictionary is not only descriptive, but rather it is also prescriptive, as it represents the results of the efforts of DBP to adapt the Malay language to accommodate the challenges of technology and science. DBP's role in developing and regulating the language may be likened to that of similar government bodies in other countries, for example the Académie Française.

It also processes many books, mainly work books and novels.

References

External links

• DBP Malaysia Archived 15 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
• Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka on Facebook