National Language Act 1963/67

The National Language Act 1963/67, is a Malaysian law enacted to consolidate the law relating to the use of the national language, as promised by the preceding Malayan government to be done 10 years after its independence.

Structure

The National Language Act 1963/67, in its current form, consists of 11 sections and no schedule, without separate Part.

Section 1: Short title, application and commencement
Section 2: National language to be used for official purposes
Section 3: Use of translation
Section 4: Continued use of English may be permitted
Section 5: Use of English language may be permitted in Parliament and Legislative Assembly
Section 6: Authoritative text of laws
Section 7: Written laws enacted prior to 1 September 1967
Section 8: Language of Courts
Section 9: Script of national language
Section 10: Form of numerals
Section 11: Forms

This Act has been extended to Sabah and approved by the State Legislature of Sabah to be applied to Sabah in 1973 under the National Language Enactment 1973 and Article 161 of the Federal Constitution.

This Act does not apply to Sarawak as no enactment or approval has been made by the State Legislature of Sarawak since the formation of Malaysia in 1963 to allow this Act to be applied to Sarawak under Article 161 of the Federal Constitution. English continues to be the official language for the state of Sarawak till this day.

The Act does not apply or extended to the International Islamic University Malaysia as there are no provisions that allows IIUM to expand it beyond its university purposes. English continues to be the official language of instruction and administration for the university up to this day.