Johor Clarifies Chinese-Language Official Letter Issue Dates Back to 2018
JOHOR BAHRU: The Johor government has clarified that an official letter issued in Chinese by the Majlis Bandaraya Iskandar Puteri, which has recently resurfaced on social media, originated in 2018 and not during the current state administration.
Johor Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said the circulation of the old document has created confusion, with some attempting to link the matter to the present administration led by Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
He stressed that the document was issued when the state was governed by Pakatan Harapan in 2018.
“The attempt to portray the matter as something that occurred under the current administration is misleading and does not reflect the actual facts.
“The incident clearly dates back to 2018,” he said in a statement.
Mohd Jafni noted that the issue attracted the attention of Sultan Ibrahim at the time, prompting a directive that all official correspondence involving the state government and local authorities must be written in Bahasa Melayu using the Roman script.
According to him, the royal decree has continued to serve as an important guideline for state agencies and remains fully observed today.
He said the Johor government remains committed to upholding Bahasa Melayu as the official language in all administrative matters.
“The state government continues to uphold the Sultan’s decree and remains committed to preserving the status of Bahasa Melayu in official government affairs,” he said.
Mohd Jafni added that the use of the national language is not merely an administrative requirement but also a reflection of respect for Malaysia’s constitutional framework and national identity.
He noted that the policy is consistent with the Federal Constitution and the National Language Act 1963/67, which establish Bahasa Melayu as the country’s official language.
The state government, he said, will continue ensuring that all departments, agencies and local authorities comply with established policies and regulations concerning official language usage.
According to him, maintaining these standards is important for preserving the dignity of the Malay Rulers institution, strengthening national identity and safeguarding social harmony within Johor.
He emphasised that the state administration remains committed to enforcing language policies and ensuring that all official communications are conducted in accordance with existing laws and regulations.
